The women of "One Tree Hill" finally believe "justice is served" five years after their show went off the air, now that its creator was fired as showrunner of "The Royals" over sexual harassment claims.
Mark Schwahn, creator of both series, was fired by Lionsgate and E! on Thursday after an investigation into more than 40 claims of harassment by the stars and crews of both shows.
"43 women came forward. To the ones who did and to the ones who didn't or couldn't, I hope this news is a salve to your souls," "OTH" alum Sophia Bush tweeted after hearing the news. "To the other predators out there? I hope this is a lesson that sometimes, even if it takes time, justice is served. You're next."
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View StoryHilarie Burton, who accused Schwahn of multiple instances of inappropriate behavior and groping her while in the presence of his wife, also celebrated on Twitter.
"The reason we cannot condone 'degrees of harassment' is because one day you get your butt or boob grabbed at work. And you laugh it off. You become conditioned. 'She's such a good sport' they say. And then? You meet a Schwahn. A Weinstein," she wrote. "I had no idea how bad OTH really was until I was taken in by the amazing cast and crew of @WhiteCollarUSA. Thank you to them for showing me how it's SUPPOSED to be. Thank you to the directors who called even though I wouldn't audition. Thank you to @GreysABC and @ForeverABC."
"And most recently @LethalWeaponFOX. You have treated me with such respect and kindness. And my ability to speak up now, all these years later, is because I have seen what filmmaking should be," she wrote. "You can be talented AND kind. And thank you to my OTH sisters."
"You women are amazing. When I left all those years ago, I could have never anticipated how strong this bond would remain," Burton added in conclusion. "It's a good day, gals. Your art matters. It's what got me here. Xoxoxo"
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View StoryBoth Burton and Bush were among the 18 women who worked on "One Tree Hill" who spoke about about Schwahn in an open letter. "Many of us were put in uncomfortable positions and had to swiftly learn to fight back, sometimes physically, because it was made clear to us that the supervisors in the room were not the protectors they were supposed to be," they wrote, adding that they were "manipulated psychologically and emotionally."
The fourth season of "The Royals" will air as scheduled, as it had completed production before Schwahn's firing.