Alyssa Milano Opens Up About Shannen Doherty’s Departure from ‘Charmed’
In a recent panel hosted by Collider, Alyssa Milano, best known for her role as Phoebe in the hit WB series “Charmed,” addressed the claims that she was responsible for Shannen Doherty’s exit from the fantasy drama series back in 2001. While Milano did not deny the allegations, she expressed sadness over the situation.
Milano shared her disappointment, not for herself or how it affected her life, but for the fans of the show. She expressed her sadness that a series that meant so much to many people has been tainted by ongoing toxicity even after almost a quarter of a century. Milano stated, “And I’m sad that people can’t move past it. And I’m sad that we all can’t just celebrate the success of a show that meant so much to all of us.”
Shannen Doherty was an original cast member of “Charmed,” alongside Milano and Holly Marie Combs. However, Doherty’s character, Prue, was killed off after three seasons and replaced by Rose McGowan’s Paige.
Rumors surrounding Milano’s involvement in Doherty’s firing began circulating in December when Doherty revealed on her podcast, “Let’s Be Clear,” that she was asked to leave the show due to an alleged ultimatum given by Milano to the producers. It was reported that a feud among the actors led Milano to tell the producers that they had to fire one of them. If it was her, she threatened to sue them for creating a hostile work environment.
Holly Marie Combs, who appeared as a guest on Doherty’s podcast, confirmed Milano’s involvement in Doherty’s departure. Combs revealed that “Charmed” producer Jonathan Levin informed her that Milano had approached him with the ultimatum. Furthermore, Combs stated that Milano had built a case for herself by documenting every time she felt uncomfortable on set with the help of a mediator.
The origins of the feud can be traced back to the promotion and advertising of the show before its first season aired. Doherty expressed her dissatisfaction with the lack of female support when it appeared that the show’s marketing revolved solely around her, despite Milano and Combs also being leads.
During the panel, Milano emphasized that she had worked hard to heal from her own trauma over the past 25 years. She acknowledged that hurt people hurt people and expressed her intention to be a healed person who helps heal others.
Despite the past conflicts, Milano expressed hope for reconciliation in the future. She questioned how it was possible to continue holding onto grudges after almost a quarter of a century and expressed her willingness to sit on a stage with her former co-stars to address the issues.
Milano concluded by stating that she has taken accountability for her part in the situation and has already apologized. She expressed her uncertainty about how else to fix it and acknowledged that it is heartbreaking.
“Charmed” originally ran for eight seasons from 1998 to 2006. Created by Constance M. Burge and produced by Aaron Spelling and his production company, Spelling Television, the series gained immense popularity. In 2018, a reboot of the show premiered on the CW, featuring Madeleine Mantock, Melonie Diaz, and Sarah Jeffery in the lead roles.