The legacy of “Charmed” has never been easy to understand for those who have enjoyed the long-running behind-the-scenes drama. It’s become more stranger now that Shannen Doherty, one of the show’s stars, is spilling the beans on her podcast.
Launched in 1998, the popular television series revolved around three sisters who were also witches, capitalizing on the popularity of other supernatural “girl power” tales of the time, such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “The Craft.”
The Charmed Ones battled real-life monsters for eight years, all the while hammering home to viewers the script’s overt focus on morality, sisterhood, and female strength. A different picture was presented, though, off-screen by rumours of savage arguments amongst co-stars, attempts to sexualize the female actresses, and the sudden replacement of Shannen Doherty with Rose McGowan in the show’s fourth season.
After more than two decades, Doherty argues that the first interpretation of her leaving was not accurate.
Details about Holly Marie Combs Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano’s “Charmed” dispute
In two instalments of her recently released podcast, “Let’s Be Clear,” Doherty talked with her longtime friend and co-star Holly Marie Combs—who portrayed Doherty’s sister Piper Halliwell on “Charmed”—about her experience playing Prue Halliwell.
Doherty claimed that competitiveness over compensation and media attention caused tension to arise between herself and Alyssa Milano, who portrayed Phoebe Halliwell, the third sister, in the episode that aired on December 18. Doherty claimed that the reason she left the program was because Milano had threatened to sue the producers, claiming that there was a poisonous work atmosphere, and they had given in.
I never wanted to quit the narrative that other people had given me. I did not take it upon myself. She added, “I believe I’m simply at a place in my life where I don’t want to keep lying about stuff.” Nobody in their right mind, in my opinion, would leave a popular show that they truly love working on and is providing them a respectable salary.
When Business Insider asked for comment, representatives for Doherty, Combs, and CBS Studios—which currently owns the “Charmed” production company Spelling Television—did not get back to them right away.
Doherty claimed that Milano and her battle for Combs’ friendship accounted for at least some of the rivalry. While season two of the show was being filmed, she said Milano had prevented Doherty from seeing Combs in the hospital, and she claimed to have cried every night of that time.
Doherty’s remarks have not been directly addressed by Milano, and when BI asked for a response, a representative did not get back to them right away. When she last discussed the relationship, in a 2021 interview with Entertainment Tonight, she acknowledged that she was partly to blame for the friction between her and Doherty and that she felt guilty for fueling their rivalry.
At the time, Doherty’s departure from “Charmed” was thought to be related to her reputation as a “bad girl.” Resurgent rumours claimed she had once been sacked from a starring position on “Beverly Hills 90210” for being uncooperative and arguing with co-star Jennie Garth.
Doherty told Combs that her representatives instructed her to state that she opted to depart “Charmed” rather than take the chance that word of her termination would spread. Many fans responded to Doherty’s remarks on social media, claiming the “Charmed” fandom had unfairly demonized her. They’re talking about other off-air relationships as well, though.
Fans of “Charmed” continue to argue fervently over every aspect of the program on Reddit, where an animated thread concerning Doherty’s Milano accusations has been brewing. A crucial inquiry pertains to Combs’ past romantic involvement with the two ladies.
In honour of Combs’ birthday just a year prior, Milano wrote on Instagram, “Love you so much,” implying that the two were pals at the time.
Doherty and Combs have seen highs and lows. Despite their years-long friendship, Combs stated in a 2020 interview that she and Doherty were no longer in contact because they had grown “too close.”
However, many have speculated about Combs’ involvement in Doherty’s podcast, particularly her endorsement of Doherty’s claims and her statement that she wanted to resign out of solidarity but was afraid of legal action.
In addition, Milano’s relationship with Rose McGowan, who joined the show after Doherty left in 2002, is tense. At the very least, this conflict stems from their participation in the #MeToo movement.
