Shannen Doherty recently passed away after a long battle with cancer. She and Alyssa Milano were part of the hit TV show “Charmed,” but Doherty left amid tensions with her co-star. Despite their complicated history, the “Who’s the Boss” actress paid tribute to Doherty following news of her death.
Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano’s relationship was defined by on-screen sisterhood and off-screen drama. Their conflict on the iconic show “Charmed” resurfaced in late 2023 thanks to a podcast. Now, with Doherty’s passing, many want to know more details of what happened between them. Did Milano ruin Doherty’s career? Let’s find out!
Shannen Doherty’s Passing and Several Difficulties
The actress, known for her roles in “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed,” died on Saturday, July 13, at the age of 53. Her longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, confirmed that Doherty lost her battle with cancer after many years.
She passed away surrounded by loved ones and her dog, Bowie.
Shannen Doherty attends the 9th Annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 05, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images
This battle began in 2015 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. After initially going into remission in 2017, her cancer returned in 2019, progressing to stage 4.
In June 2023, Doherty revealed that the condition had spread to her brain, and she needed surgery to remove a tumor she had named Bob. Throughout this, Doherty remained determined to continue working and living life to the fullest.
“I’m not done with living. I’m not done with loving. I’m not done with creating. I’m not done with hopefully changing things for the better,” she assured the public.
Her resilience and openness about her struggle made her an inspiration to many, who remember her characters, Brenda Walsh and Prue Halliwell, fondly.
Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth, Gabrielle Carteris, and Shannen Doherty of “Beverly Hills 90210” pose for a portrait in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
True to her word, Doherty continued to work while getting cancer treatment and participated in the “Beverly Hills, 90210” reboot in 2019.
In her final interview with People in November 2023, the actress expressed her gratitude for life and described her spiritual beliefs.
“My greatest memory is yet to come,” she said. “I pray. I wake up and go to bed thanking God, praying for the things that matter to me without asking for too much. It connects me to a higher power and spirituality. My faith is my mantra.”
Adding to her health struggles, Doherty faced financial difficulties amid a divorce from her estranged husband, Kurt Iswarienko.
Shannen Doherty and then-husband producer Kurt Iswarienko attend Hollywood Unites for the 5th Biennial Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) on September 9, 2016 in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
In a legal filing, she accused him of prolonging the proceedings in the hope that she would die before being required to pay spousal support.
Doherty requested $15,343 a month because her income had significantly decreased over the past year due to her medical costs, lack of work, and reduced residuals from “Charmed.”
Meanwhile, her ex-husband continued to live a lavish lifestyle, spending money on luxury items and travel while claiming insufficient funds to support her.
There’s nothing like money troubles to make an already complicated situation worse, and in the meantime, her long-standing pseudo-feud with Alyssa Milano resurfaced.
The Drama with Milano
The tension between Doherty and her co-star on the set of “Charmed” has been a topic of discussion among fans and viewers for years.
When Doherty left the show in 2001, she hinted at on-set issues in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. She expressed her desire to work with actors who genuinely cared and were committed to being present every day. According to the actress, there was excessive drama on the set and insufficient passion for the work.
At the time, her departure was shrouded in speculation about behind-the-scenes conflicts. She fueled these rumors by stating, “I don’t want to work with people who [expletive] about their job and complain about it and say that they hate it or anything else.”
Notably, she only expressed that she would miss her other co-start, Holly Marie Combs, conspicuously omitting any mention of Milano.
Holly Marie Combs and Shannen Doherty arrive ahead of opening night of Opera Australia’s production of Carmen at Sydney Opera House on June 16, 2016 in Sydney, Australia | Source: Getty Images
However, in December 2023, Doherty shed new light on her exit from “Charmed” during an episode of her podcast “Let’s Be Clear.”
Contrary to the long-standing narrative that she left the show willingly, Doherty claimed she was fired after Milano threatened production with a lawsuit. The actress revealed that the story of her having “quit” was assigned to her by others.
Combs, who played Piper on “Charmed,” corroborated Doherty’s account on the podcast. She recounted a meeting with producer Jonathan Levin, where he allegedly confirmed Milano’s ultimatum:
“We were told that it’s her or me. Alyssa has threatened to sue us for a hostile workplace environment.”
Still, Doherty expressed her love for the show and everyone in it. “I loved going to that job. I loved the people that I worked with,” she said. The actress also mentioned that she didn’t recall being mean to Milano on set, even accommodating her needs when directing an episode.
But the actress also added that there was no hate or resentment anymore. This was just their way to clear the air and tell fans the real story.
Furthermore, Doherty had to admit that she was encouraged to go along with the narrative that she chose to leave the show for her own sake. Her representatives told her her career wouldn’t “survive” being dismissed from another show, which originally happened with “Beverly Hills, 90210.”
Combs added that Milano had allegedly built a case against Doherty by documenting every time she felt uncomfortable on set. According to her, this approach “wouldn’t [expletive] fly” by today’s standards.
But at the end of the day, there were no on-set brawls or harsh words exchanged, as some people may still believe. Instead, there was a competitive dynamic that developed between Doherty and Milano until the former’s exit.
Doherty mentioned she was the first member cast for the show and was offered a solo appearance on the cover of Rolling Stone after its success. After that, the actress noticed a “lack of female support” coming from her co-star.
Milano Reacted to the Podcast
The actress, who played Phoebe on “Charmed,” addressed the resurfaced drama during a panel at MegaCon in Orlando.
After a question from a fan, Milano took the opportunity to address what she called “the elephant in the room.” She acknowledged the podcast statements made by Doherty and Combs, as well as past comments from Rose McGowan, who played Paige on the show once Doherty left.
Alyssa Milano speaks at MegaCon Orlando 2024 at Orange County Convention Center on February 02, 2024 in Orlando, Florida | Source: Getty Images
Ultimately, she expressed mostly disappointment. “I’m the most sad for the fans,” Milano stated. “I’m the most sad that a show that has meant so much to so many people has been tarnished by a toxicity that is still to this day, almost a quarter of a century later, still happening.”
The actress later took to Instagram to elaborate on her perspective, “I don’t wanna add on to anyone else’s pain because I don’t think that’s cool either.”
Milano maintained that the events happened over two decades ago. “Any retelling of these stories from anyone is just revisionist history,” she elaborated.
Her post also detailed that a professional mediator looked into the accusations. Ultimately, the studio, Aaron Spelling, and the network decided to let Doherty go to “protect the international hit that was ‘Charmed.'”
“I did not have the power to get anyone fired. Once Shannen left, we had 5 more successful seasons and I am forever grateful,” Milano concluded her post.
The actress also thanked the fans who have had to deal with the ongoing drama and wished her former co-stars, Holly, Shannen, and Rose, “peace and light.” Milano even added that they had “bigger demons to fight.”
Her followers rallied around her, with one commenting, “It’s very sad that it turned out this way, but Alyssa, we believe in you!”
Others expressed frustration with the ongoing feud, writing, “I can’t believe this is still being talked about. It’s the people who keep asking the ‘Charmed’ actresses questions about it who keep it alive. Leave them ALL alone about it and let it go [sic].”
Alyssa Milano from the tv show “Charmed” in 1999 | Source: Getty Images
Doherty Was Also at MegaCon on a Separate Day
Doherty appeared at a MegaCon panel, alongside McGowan and Combs, on a different day than Milano and talked about the ongoing controversy.
She read a prepared statement where she said that, given her health diagnosis, it was incredibly important to her that the truth be told, rather than the narrative others had created for her.
She stood by the account she and Combs had shared on her podcast, asserting, “We told it together, we told our truth, and we are standing by our truths.”
Doherty’s emotional statement highlighted the deep impact these past events have had on her life. She spoke of the trauma of losing her livelihood and the effects on her family, attributing it to someone else’s desire to be “number one on the call sheet.”
Shannen Doherty speaks during a Q&A session at MegaCon Orlando 2024 at Orange County Convention Center on February 04, 2024 in Orlando, Florida | Source: Getty Images
The actress also mentioned the fans directly, expressing the cast’s love and commitment to protect them. They had been covering this situation for “as long as” they could.
This comment suggested that Doherty, Combs, and others had long withheld their side of the story out of consideration for the show’s fanbase. Finally, Doherty shared a quote from comedian Katt Williams:
“Winners do not let losers rewrite history.”
Combs Defended Doherty after MegaCon
The actress came to Doherty’s defense following Milano’s statements at MegaCon and Instagram.
Combs made her own social media post and expressed her disappointment in Milano’s denial of the events surrounding Doherty’s departure from “Charmed.”
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She wrote, “This is just the history [Milano] didn’t want people to know about. And the history Shannen wasn’t ready to talk about until one month ago.”
In her post, the actress challenged Milano’s claim that she lacked the power to influence casting decisions. She added that her co-star could’ve stopped “the process at any time.”
According to Combs, Doherty had been presented with the option of having Milano replaced instead, but she refused. However, the entire blame can’t be placed on these actresses.
Combs also suggested that the producers didn’t find the right solution on purpose. “3 broken pieces were easier to manipulate than one united front. Which would have been more costly and cut into their precious profit margin,” she wrote.
Finally, she concluded her post by expressing gratitude to the fans for “Charmed.” The actress added that the show was made for all of them and that, despite the cast’s differences, they were all incredibly thankful for this “dysfunctional family” in every way.
McGowan added a comment on Combs’ reel, praising her for speaking out about the “years of continuous behind-the-scenes character assassination and targeted reputation smearing because of narcissistic pathological jealousy.”
She added, “I wish none of it had to be this way. I remain proud of everyone involved for the magic we wove and the magic created worldwide. Truth is uncomfortable, but magic never dies.”
Milano Paid Tribute to Her Former Co-Worker
Despite the controversy, the actress paid tribute to Doherty following news of her death. In a statement to People, she acknowledged their troubled past but added how she felt about her former co-star.
“It’s no secret that Shannen and I had a complicated relationship, but at its core was someone I deeply respected and was in awe of,” Milano said. “She was a talented actress, beloved by many, and the world is less without her. My condolences to all who loved her.”
Milano’s words came just days after Doherty had announced her participation in a “Charmed” rewatch podcast alongside other former co-stars.
Therefore, despite her controversial exit from the show, Doherty was still attached to the worldwide “Power of Three” hit. The first episode of this podcast was released on Monday, July 8, just days before her passing.
Unfortunately, the actress was only able to record five episodes. It’s truly saddening that she is no longer here to keep enjoying “Charmed” with the rest of her dedicated fans and everyone else who was watching the show for the first time.
