‘Charmed’ Stars Remember Shannen Doherty – Fans Outraged by Alyssa Milano’s Statement

After years of fighting her cancer diagnosis, Shannen Doherty could not fight anymore. In her death, she’s been honored by former colleagues, including one person with whom she did not get along. That same person was accused of being the reason for her job loss in the early 2000s.

After Doherty’s death at age 53 on July 13, 2024, many people took to social media to pay tribute to the star. Some of those who remembered the actress, who lost her battle with breast cancer, were people she once worked with on “Charmed.”

Her former co-star, Brian Krause, honored her by sharing a throwback photo of Doherty on his Instagram. In his touching post, he said she showed him what “strength is” and taught him to “live with purpose” and be “fearless.”

Another thing Krause learned from the star is knowing one’s value and sticking “to your determinations.” He concluded his message by saying Doherty is “Forever loved!” and that he is “Truly heartbroken” by the loss.

Ted King also uploaded an old picture of him and the late celebrity and noted that they had spent ages creating a “special television couple.” His heart went out to her family, and he hoped she would “Rest in peace.”

Finola Hughes also remembered Doherty fondly, attaching a picture of her in an Instagram post. Hughes described the late star as “beautiful,” a “warrior” with “fierce talent,” a “passionate actor,” an “advocate,” and a “friend.”

The British actress recalled how her former colleague fought the disease ravaging her body. She said her heart went out to the late star’s mother, dog, family, and friends who had “loved her equally fiercely as she loved them.” Hughes apologized for their loss and wished Doherty a peaceful rest.

Rose McGowan grieved the loss of Doherty with a video showing the actress through the years. McGowan recalled how the late celebrity had “the heart of a lion” and that “passion” for acting is often “mislabeled as trouble” and that was Doherty.

The star said she was in awe when she met the late actress in the 1990s and getting to know her later in life was a “beautiful gift.” McGowan recalled how Doherty fought to stay alive and had known how to be a star because it was something she started doing in her childhood.

The actress was inspired until the end by the late star’s work ethic. Doherty’s great love for acting, Holly Marie Combs, directing, her parents, friends, her fans, and dog were described as “legendary.” She and Doherty had their lives intertwined uniquely.

McGowan recalled them laughing at those who wished for them to hate each other, while they chose to give one another respect and love. The late celebrity was called “soft-hearted” and a “force of energy” that will live in their hearts, before noting how she’d never forget her “dear sister.”

Doherty’s “Charmed” co-star, Alyssa Milano, also released a statement reacting to her passing. She acknowledged that there were past rifts between them but revealed that she had “deeply respected” and was “in awe of” the late star.

She also described the late celebrity as “talented,” “beloved by many,” and said “the world is less without her.” Milano ended her statement by sending her condolences to “all who loved her.” Doherty’s fans were not too thrilled with Milano’s tribute.

One person who commented on a post relating to Milano’s statement on X said, “I wouldn’t take Milano’s word for anything.” Responding to a different X post that uploaded the actress’ statement, a reader questioned, “But why you no say (sic) this before ????”

An X user who responded to the same post felt the pair could have squashed their rift, saying, “I just wish they had put the past behind and talked again before she died….” Someone who was not impressed by Milano’s message wrote, “Unpopular opinion. It would have been better if she didn’t say anything.”

Agreeing with the previous netizens, another person criticized, “Alyssa should have stayed quiet.” A Doherty fan felt they saw the truth behind the actress’ statement, writing, “After the way Alyssa acted for decades towards Shannon, she should be quiet. Of course, she has the need to make it about her!”

Someone who thought Milano had ulterior motives behind her message called her statement “white woman gaslighting 101, lol, ‘complicated relationship.'” The X user continued her post stating, “…..Alyssa, sweetie, you absolutely ruined her life.”

Copying Milano’s sentence stating “My condolences to all who loved her,” another person thought those words did “not include Alyssa Milano” who “really is shameless given her duplicity.” Another reader thought the star’s message was “Lies.”

The person added, “If you knew the way she worked to get Shannen fired, you wouldn’t believe a word of this.” While starring in “Charmed,” Doherty played Prue, the oldest Halliwell sister among the trio, and Milano was the youngest, Phoebe.

Prue had telekinetic powers while Phoebe had premonitions. Their middle sister, Piper (played by Combs), could freeze time. During an episode of Doherty’s “Let’s Be Clear” podcast, she and Combs claimed Milano was instrumental in the late actress’ firing from “Charmed.”

Combs recalled being put into a room with the show’s producer, Jonathan Levin when she mentioned not wanting to star in “Charmed” without Doherty. Levin allegedly explained to her that the team was put in a “position where it’s one or the other.”

He said they were told Milano threatened to sue her co-stars for “a hostile workplace environment.” Milano had reportedly gone to a therapist or corporate mediator and built a case to support her allegations.

She documented everything that made her feel uncomfortable on set while Doherty and Combs refused to speak to the professional. In the season 3 finale of the show, Prue was killed off before being replaced by Paige Matthews, a long-lost half-sister played by McGowan.

Earlier in 2024, Milano addressed the rumors, saying she was sad that the series that meant a lot to many people was “tarnished” by “toxicity.” While at the MegaCon Orlando fan convention, she lamented that even though it was “almost a quarter of a century later” since the show ended, the toxicity is “still happening.”

But Combs and Doherty defended themselves, with the latter saying they were not being mean on the podcast. Speaking at the same convention, the late actress revealed that she and Combs even edited out anything on the podcast that could cause further issues.

She claimed they told the truth because it mattered and that they wanted to try and save Milano and the fans from further heartbreak. On her podcast, Shannen Doherty, who left “Charmed” in 2001, once opened up about not returning to the show’s 2006 finale despite having the freedom to do so.

She said she regretted that choice for her fans but not for herself. The late celebrity explained that she was “incredibly wrecked” when they let her go. She shared that walking onto the set many years later would have triggered her and “crushed” her all over again.