Actress Sophia Bush is once again addressing persistent speculation regarding the beginnings of her relationship with wife Ashlyn Harris, maintaining that there was never any overlap between their past marriages.
Appearing on the podcast Call Her Daddy to promote her forthcoming memoir, And I Will Tell You Mine: Notes from a Life in Progress, the 44-year-old alum of One Tree Hill spoke directly with host Alex Cooper about the scrutiny surrounding her personal life. Bush confirmed that both she and Harris had already filed for divorce and were living in separate residences from their former spouses when they went out to dinner in October 2023.
The couple later married in an intimate ceremony in upstate New York in the summer of 2025. Bush was previously married to entrepreneur Grant Hughes from June 2022 until they announced their separation in August 2023. Harris was married to fellow soccer player Ali Krieger from December 2019 until she filed for divorce in September 2023.
Reflecting on the public reaction and timing of events, Bush acknowledged that while people always wish they could alter certain choices, she cannot change reality. She noted that she originally had tickets to a comedy show and stopped in New York, leading to a date that some might wish had happened weeks later, but emphasized that she cannot control what people choose to believe.
Addressing the narrative that their romance began as an affair, Bush dismissed the idea that the transition was casual or impulsive, noting that she was actually nervous to express her feelings. She recalled that the conversation happened before a family trip with her mother, describing herself as terrified when she finally asked Harris out.
Bush also discussed the broader impact of public gossip, expressing concern when online rumors affect individuals’ jobs, credibility, and ability to provide for their families, particularly when children are involved. She credited the entertainment industry strike season with providing a helpful period of quiet for them as a couple.
The couple, who both serve on the board of the Human Rights Campaign and support LGBTQ+ causes, have previously addressed public perception in writing. In an April 2024 essay for Glamour, Bush emphasized the extensive time, painful conversations, and deliberate effort that went into navigating their personal transitions away from public view.
Bush’s memoir, And I Will Tell You Mine: Notes from a Life in Progress, is scheduled for release on October 27.
