Charmed debuted on the WB network on October 7, 1998, captivating audiences with the enchanting tale of the Halliwell sisters. The trio of Shannen Doherty, Alyssa Milano, and Holly Marie Combs brought to life characters whose magical exploits resonated with viewers. However, Shannen Doherty departed at the end of the third season, prompting the introduction of Rose McGowan’s Paige Matthews as her replacement.
Holly Marie Combs, who starred as Piper Halliwell, the second eldest sister, recently revealed intriguing insights by shedding light on the circumstances leading to her now 52-year-old colleague’s departure from the fantasy TV drama.
Holly Marie Combs says Alyssa Milano was responsible for Shannen Doherty’s departure from ‘Charmed’
During her guest appearance on Doherty’s podcast, Let’s Be Clear, Combs disclosed the circumstances surrounding her co-star’s dismissal. She shared that upon learning of the termination, she proactively arranged a meeting with a producer to gain insight into the decision.
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She went on to detail that the producer, Aaron Spelling, clarified that Doherty’s departure was influenced by Alyssa Milano. “He said, ‘We didn’t mean to – but we’ve been backed into this corner; we’re basically in this position where it’s one or the other,'” Combs admitted. “‘We were told [by Alyssa] it’s her or [Shannen] and Alyssa has threatened to sue us for a hostile workplace environment.'”
Shannen Doherty says she and Alyssa Milano never had issues on the set of ‘Charmed’
During the discussion, Doherty noted that after her exit from the series, her team downplayed the news claiming she left on her own volition due to her similar fate on Beverly Hills 90210. “One can’t keep telling the same story over and over and over again when it’s not the truth,” she explained. “My representatives, I remember them looking at me at the time and said, ‘No, no, no, your career won’t survive another firing, so we’re just going to say that you chose to leave.’ I remember I started laughing, going, ‘Who is going to believe that I’m crazy enough to leave a hit show?’”
However, throughout her tenure on Charmed, the actress openly shared that she harbored no grievances or conflicts with Milano, ruling out any potential source of resentment between them. “I don’t ever remember being mean to [Milano] on set,” Doherty confessed. “I couldn’t have been more kind and understanding. I wish that I had been older and wiser because I definitely would’ve sued, and I would’ve been honest about the situation because the rumors followed me regardless.”