Rachel Bilson Says Olsen Twins ‘Saved’ Her From Adam Brody Fans

The OC was once a pop culture phenomenon – and Rachel Bilson experienced the pandemonium firsthand during a performance on TRL.

In Alan Sepinwall‘s new book, Welcome to the OC: Oral HistoryBilson, 42, recalled being “swamped by a massive crowd” of fans wanting to meet her costar and then-boyfriend, Adam Brody, after they taped an episode of the MTV show. She managed to escape with help from two unlikely sources: Maria-Kate And Ashley Olsen.

“The Olsen twins saved me and threw me in their car,” Bilson recalls in the book, coauthored with The OC Creator Jos Schwartz and executive producer Stephanie Savage. “I left Brody behind because I was so nervous and didn’t know what to do. And they said, ‘Shouldn’t you get your boyfriend?’ And I thought, ‘Oh yeah, we have to go get him.’ He was harassed.”

Brody, 43, claimed in the book that he didn’t remember having “a lot of Beatles moments” during the height of his fame, but Bilson was happy to remind him of the TRL incident: “I don’t want to say he’s lying because he Maybe I don’t remember, she said. “He stands corrected.”

Although he did not initially remember the massive crowd incident, Brody admitted that he realized his life had changed when a woman grabbed him and “[hooked] up” with him before saying, “Welcome to Hollywood.” He described the encounter as a “recognition of a change of status” and noted that he remembers the moment as “innocent and joyful,” even if others might find it “gross.”

Brody and Bilson — who played high school sweethearts Seth Cohen and Summer Roberts, respectively — dated in real life from 2003 to 2006 while filming the teen drama. While the duo called it quits before the show ended for good in 2007, Bilson later said the romance helped her adjust to the fame that The OC brought her and her castmates.

Related: The OC’s Most Memorable Side Characters: Where Are They Now?

Welcome to The OC! Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson, Ben McKenzie and more young actors started the teen drama, but there were even more faces that would soon become famous in the background. The OC followed Ryan Atwood (McKenzie), who experiences culture shock after moving in with Seth Cohen (Brody) and […]

“Because of what the show was and how young we all were, it was really great to go through it with someone who was going through the same thing and get that kind of support,” Bilson said. Nylon in April 2021. “I’m actually grateful to have it. It was definitely a unique experience and I don’t think anyone else could have really understood it if they hadn’t been there.”

Bilson added that the relationship was “super helpful and supportive” for her as she got used to life in the spotlight. “I am completely grateful for the whole experience,” she added.

After splitting from Bilson, Brody got married Leighton Master in 2014. The duo share daughter Arlo, 8, and a son, 3, whose name they have not publicly shared.

Bilson, meanwhile, was dating Hayden Christensen from 2007 to 2017. The former couple are parents to daughter Briar Rose, 9.

Welcome to the OC: Oral History is now available.