Sophia Bush And Ashlyn Harris are officially a couple!
The A tree hill Star confirmed her relationship with the former soccer star in a cover story for shine magazine in April 2024, where she too broke her silence about her sexualitypublicly identify as queer.
The couple’s relationship is not without controversy as both were previously married and recently divorced from their respective partners Rumors about their relationship began spreading in October 2023. However, in her interview, Bush denied any infidelity and lamented the fact that their relationship and journey to self-discovery were subject to such intense scrutiny.
“The idea that I left my marriage because of a hysterical tryst – which, to be clear, never happened – rather than the fact that it took me over a year to do the most soul-destroying work of my life? Instead of realizing that I did it.” To be more vulnerable than ever before on a public stage, even though I’m scared to my core? It feels brutal,” she said.
Bush and Harris grew up on opposite coasts, with Bush spending her childhood in Pasadena, California, where a required theater performance in school led her to a love of acting. She made her breakthrough as Brooke Davis on “The WB’s.” A tree hill before playing leading roles in shows like Chicago PD And All the best, Victor and films like John Tucker Must Die, The Incredibles 2 and more.
Meanwhile, Harris grew up in Cocoa Beach, Florida, played club soccer on boys’ teams until she was 14 – and started in the U-19 program of the US national team the following year. A star goalkeeper, she won three collegiate championships at the University of North Carolina as well as two FIFA Women’s World Cup titles and two CONCACAF Women’s Championships with the United States Women’s National Team. She also played in the National Women’s Soccer League for some time before retiring in 2022.
However, the pair share a passion for soccer, with Harris obviously being a former icon on the field and Bush currently being co-owner of Los Angeles-based NWSL team Angel City FC.
Here’s a look back at how their relationship started and how it’s going.
PAST ROMANCES
After a whirlwind on-set romance, Bush announced her engagement A tree hill Co-star Chad Michael Murray in May 2004. They tied the knot in April 2005, but announced their separation just a few months later, in October of the same year. The actress would later date other co-stars including A tree hill‘s James Lafferty and Austin Nichols, as well Chicago PDis Jesse Lee Soffer, but she has just tied the knot again married businessman Grant Hughes on June 11, 2022.
Harris, for her part, was in a relationship with USWNT teammate Ali Krieger from 2010 to 2023. The married couple the knot tied in December 2019 and adopted two children together – a daughter, Sloane, born in February 2021, and a son, Ocean, born in August 2022.
FOOTBALL BONDS
Bush and Harris were first photographed together when the actress attended the U.S. women’s soccer team’s brunch in August 2019, following the team’s victory at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Bush entered professional soccer in her own way in 2020, joining the all-female ownership group of the National Women’s Soccer League’s newest team, Angel City FC. She joined other celebrities such as Natalie Portman, America Ferrera, Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Eva Longoria and Serena Williams and co-owned the team.
She and Harris even attended the next World Cup together – they were photographed cheering at Peacock’s watch party at Gracias Madre in Los Angeles on July 26, 2023.
Separate splits
On August 4, 2023, Bush filed for divorce from Hughes after just 13 months of marriage.
“Grant and Sophia are better off as friends and they didn’t have enough time together before their split,” a source said said ET At the time, he added, “But it wasn’t ugly and they still support each other, want each other to be happy and want their nonprofit to continue to thrive.”
Meanwhile, Harris filed for divorce from Krieger on September 19, 2023, with her ex later revealing that she found out about the divorce filing during a training session with New York Gotham FC.
Krieger said in a January 2024 cover story SELF Magazine that she will “never forget” the morning she heard the news.
“I was on the field. And when I left the field, in the locker room, I was obviously devastated,” she recalled, noting how her teammates made the best of the heartbreaking situation and brought her wine and flowers to cheer her up.
“You didn’t even think twice. “They didn’t have to ask, they just showed up,” she noted. “They just kept coming in — right after practice, after their meetings, until 2 a.m. My kids were there, we were all there… We were there until 2 a.m. just hanging out, dancing and making music on YouTube.”
STEPPING OUT
News of the relationship between Bush and Harris broke in October 2023 a source told ET at the time“Sophia and Ashlyn are dating and are into each other.”
“Although it’s new, the two are on the same page and are talking about their future together,” the source added.
Hughes, for his part, issued a statement Page six that he just wants his estranged wife to be happy.
“Grant will always want the best for Sophia and supports anything that makes her happy and fulfilled,” the rep told the outlet at the time.
The couple made it official when they made their first public appearance together at the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 32nd Academy Awards Party on March 10, 2024 in West Hollywood, California.
“The two kept a low profile, avoiding the media and hanging out with friends,” a source told ET at the time. “This happened after the happy couple had a fun time with friends at South by Southwest in Austin. The two enjoyed the festivities in Austin and made a point of keeping a low profile.”
Deny the rumors
In a lengthy statement shared to Instagram In November 2023, Harris attempted to dispel speculation about the end of her marriage.
“A few weeks ago, a process that had been going on privately for some time became public,” she wrote about her divorce filing. “Ending a relationship after nearly 13 years of friendship, team partnership, marriage and co-parenting (many of them good years) is a decision not made lightly. We agreed to put our children first, continue therapy, separate and…” “Two happy families are always better than one unhappy one. This process is never easy, but we did it.”
The athlete further explained that she and Krieger, on the advice of their agents, decided to keep the information secret until Krieger retired. However, her trust was broken when someone “leaked” the news of their breakup, which she described as a “betrayal of our deepest trust.”
“The online hate that has happened since has been one of the most personally devastating experiences of my life,” she wrote. “Now I know that in the world of online gossip, the best course of action is to ‘don’t feed the beast. Do not answer. Don’t let them see you sweat.’ Just hide until the tabloids and internet trolls decide to feast on someone else. I tried to let the fire burn out and it destroyed my mental health was brutal.”
Harris ended her message by sharing that her children are her top priority and that she co-parents well with Krieger and that she still plans to be optimistic about the future.
“Despite this current darkness, love has connected us for years. And the children are the best of all. You deserve two healthy and happy parents and that is the most important thing,” she wrote. “We are all in pain. “I share all of this to remind people that bullying someone over a personal choice really hurts, especially when that bullying is based on lies,” she wrote. “I hope that instead of constant cruelty, you can remember the simple truth.” I am a human being, a mother and a good person who is simply doing the best I can. I would appreciate if you could take a breath and treat me and my family with some humanity.
COMES OUT
Bush officially confirmed the relationship And broke her silence about her sexuality in a cover story for shine magazine in April 2024.
“I think I always knew that my sexuality existed on a spectrum,” she shared. “I have experienced so much safety, respect, and love as an ally in the queer community throughout my life that as soon as I returned to myself, I felt like it was my home. I think I’ve always known that.” “My sexuality right now exists on a spectrum that I can best describe without smiling.”
“I finally feel like I can breathe. I don’t think I can explain how profound this is. I feel like I’ve been wearing a weighted vest for who knows how long. “I didn’t realize how heavy it was until I finally put it down,” she continued.
When discussing her relationship with Harris, Bush shared how their connection blossomed in the wake of their respective divorces. However, she also denied any infidelity and lamented the fact that her relationship and her journey to self-discovery were under such intense scrutiny.
“The idea that I left my marriage because of a hysterical tryst – which, to be clear, never happened – rather than the fact that it took me over a year to do the most soul-destroying work of my life? Instead of realizing I did it.” “I’m more vulnerable on a public stage than I’ve ever been before, even though I’m scared to my core? It feels brutal,” Bush said.
Despite the challenges, Bush expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of her family, especially her parents Charles and Maureen, who have embraced her journey with love and acceptance.
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