Sarah Michelle Gellar defends Shannen Doherty over ‘difficult’ feud with Alyssa Milano
She can be quite charming.
Sarah Michelle Gellar has officially thrown her support behind her good friend Shannen Doherty amid the “Charmed” actress’ yearslong feud with former co-star Alyssa Milano.
“It was a difficult time,” Gellar, 46, told E! News on Sunday. “I was there for it. I think Shannen’s just about sharing her truths in general right now.”
“What’s amazing about her is, flaws and all, she’s showing it all,” the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” alum continued. “I will support her. I know it wasn’t the easiest time, but she’s a different person now.”
Gellar later added that she was proud of Doherty, 52, amid her ongoing struggles.
“Our relationship has grown because we’ve grown. We’ve had experiences and life is complicated. And we’ve been able to experience it together, so then you grow together,” the “Cruel Intentions” star said.
Gellar’s defense of the “Heathers” star, who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, comes after fellow “Charmed” costar, Holly Marie Combs, alleged that Milano, 51, gave the WB show’s producers an ultimatum to fire the “Beverly Hills, 90210” actress.
The claim, which was made on Doherty’s podcast “Let’s Be Clear With Shannen Doherty,” prompted an immediate response from Milano, who denied being involved with her firing.
“I did not have the power to get anyone fired. Once Shannen left we had 5 more successful seasons and I am forever grateful,” Milano wrote in a lengthy Instagram post on Feb. 3.
Following the post, Combs, 50, took to social media to express how “disappointed” she was that Milano continued to deny her role in Doherty’s abrupt exit from the show.
“I feel the need to defend myself after the many continuing attacks that have ensued since Alyssa stepped out on the stage [at MegaCon] and essentially called Shannen and I liars,” Combs wrote in a second lengthy Instagram post.
“Suffice to say I’m a little shocked and a little disappointed especially by the things she posted the next day while texting me simultaneously words to the contrary. Sadly that’s not a surprising anymore,” she continued.
Combs then slammed Milano for saying that she and Doherty were trying to create a “revisionist history,” adding that their stories are “just the history [Milano] didn’t want people to know about.”
“I heard that Alyssa said she did not have the power to fire anyone which is ironic because this was actually all about power,” she wrote. “But let’s go with that and let me explain what she did have the power to do. She had the power to stop the process at any time.”
Combs continued the post by stating that Milano “alone had the power to stop” Doherty’s firing.
Doherty was eventually replaced by Rose McGowan after her character’s shocking death at the end of the show’s third season.
