“Charmed” alum Holly Marie Combs has weighed in on the ongoing dispute between her co-stars Alyssa Milano and Shannen Doherty regarding the latter's departure from the supernatural series in 2001.
Combs shared his testimony in a instagram post Monday, days after the former trio appeared on separate panels at MegaCon Orlando. During Milano's solo appearance on February 2, he addressed comments made by Combs and Doherty on a December 2023 episode of Doherty's podcast, “Let's Be Clear,” calling out the couple's particular claim that Milano had fired Doherty of the series as “revisionist history.”
“In the spirit of no longer being the quiet one or the middle child, I feel the need to defend myself after the many continuous attacks that have followed since Alyssa came on stage and essentially called Shannen and me liars, when she was simply asked what it was like working with Rose [McGowan]“Combs wrote in his extensive post.
“First of all, this is not revisionist history. This is just the story that she [Milano] I didn't want people to know. And the story Shannen wasn't willing to talk about until a month ago.”
Doherty has been battling stage 4 breast cancer in recent years. At a MegaCon panel alongside Combs and McGowan, who replaced Doherty after the third season of “Charmed,” Doherty said her illness drove her to talk about his experience working on the show after biting his tongue for the sake of the fans.
“It is also incredibly important to me that the truth be told, as opposed to the narrative that others tell me,” Doherty said on the panel. “There is no revisionist history happening in the truth that I know we tell.”
The truth, according to Combs' Instagram post, is that Milano could have saved Doherty's spot on the show.
“She had the power to [sic] stop the process at any time. He had the power not to speak to the hired mediator/therapist to protect the proceeds,” Combs wrote. “And when the producers said yes, we're letting Shannen go, Alyssa also had the power to say no, I don't want that. But she didn't do it.”
When presented with “the same option,” Combs said, Doherty told them he did not want Milano replaced.
Two days before Combs' Instagram post, Milano posted a transcript of comments he made at MegaCon.
“I believe I have been very sincere and have taken responsibility and apologized for any role I played in the situation,” the transcript reads. “I don't know how else to fix it.”
In the caption of the post, Milano wrote that she “didn't have the power to get anyone fired.”
“There was a professional mediator (I was told Holly and Shannen would not participate in any mediation) and a producer/nanny on set who were hired to investigate all claims,” Milano said. “This mediator then recommended, after collecting testimonies from the cast AND crew, what changes should be made if the show was to continue.”
Mark Ruffalo and Milano's husband, David Bugliari, among others, commented in support of the actor and activist.
“I have known you for years, you are a hard worker, a great mother, a talented actress and writer, a great strategist and organizer, always fighting to improve people's lives and you are simply a very nice and pleasant person. There is no use repeating the past. It's gone,” Ruffalo said.
Bugliari said: “If only Mr. Spelling and the studio had hired a neutral third party to investigate and determine the source of the disturbance and the cause of the hostile workplace? That way an independent investigation could be conducted, this team could have interviewed eyewitnesses/earwitnesses of the cast and crew and made a recommendation based on their findings. Perhaps they could have influenced how to handle the bad behavior and bullying that took place? Oh wait? That happens? I understand.”
Combs herself received a supportive comment from McGowan, who said: “To me, this is much bigger than a TV show, encompassing years of continuous behind-the-scenes character assassination and selective reputation slander due to pathological narcissistic jealousy.” . I wish none of this had to be like this.”
“Charmed” fans responded with frustration at how the situation had escalated.
“I can't believe this happens between women of very mature stature. “Where did the wisdom go?” wrote one user.
“Can we get over it now? This is ruining the show,” another commented.
But while fans may feel the actors are to blame, both Combs and Milano have suggested that a third party is responsible for what happened on set nearly a quarter-century ago.
“I think a lot of the blame still lies with the producers, who knew it was easier to keep us divided than united. Three broken pieces were easier to control and manipulate than a united front,” Combs said in his Monday post.
“They always made us feel like we were competing with each other,” Milano told ET in October 2021. “I feel kind of guilty about my part in that.”
