Alyssa Milano Reflects on ‘Resilience’ on Her 51st Birthday Amidst Controversial Claims Involving Shannen Doherty's Departure from ‘Charmed’
Alyssa Milano reflects on her 'resilience' on her 51st birthday amidst claims by 'Charmed' co-star Holly Marie Combs that she played a role in Shannen Doherty's firing
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Alyssa Milano is opening up about learning to have “resilience’ while celebrating her 51st birthday.
"Today is my 51st birthday! Instead of just revealing my age, I've decided to refer to it as reaching 'level 51,'” the 51-year-old actress shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, December 19, along with a makeup-free selfie. “I've discovered a few cheat codes that have helped me handle the challenges and successes that have come my way. The first cheat code is RESILIENCE. I've encountered heartache, anxiety, and depression, but I've overcome them through LOVE. Love for myself keeps me growing and exploring, love for others keeps me kind and forgiving, and love for the world around me keeps me in awe of what has been created here."
Milano mentioned that love has given her the “strength to move forward,” and added that “gratitude” is another cheat code that has kept her optimistic about life.
She continued, "I have come to appreciate the simple pleasures of life, such as the grace of birds soaring in the sky and the grandeur of trees standing tall. I am thankful for the interdependent relationship between plants and humans, where my breath sustains them and their existence provides me with what I need to survive. Gratitude has also allowed me to embrace the gift of curiosity, constantly seeking to learn something new. Above all, I am grateful for the steady beat of my heart, carrying the blood of my ancestors and connecting me to a rich heritage of profound achievements."
Milano also included compassion and empathy on her list of qualities that have helped her attain "level 51 status." The former Who's the Boss star acknowledged that these emotions can be "uncomfortable to experience" at times but have ultimately "molded [her] into a compassionate and humble person who strives to alleviate the suffering of humanity."
Milano finished her extensive post by expressing gratitude for the people in her life who have loved her "unconditionally," acknowledging their "support, care, and acceptance" as the driving force behind her "personal growth."
"As I celebrate my 51st birthday, I do so with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude," she stated. "I embrace the challenges and joys that are to come, knowing that I have the cheat codes of resilience, gratitude, compassion, empathy, and the love of those around me to navigate this game of life."
Milano’s remarks come the day after her former Charmed costars Shannen Doherty and Holly Marie Combs discussed the tension on set in the ‘90s. During the December 19 episode of Doherty’s “Let’s Be Clear” podcast, Combs, 50, claimed that a producer said Milano threatened to sue if Doherty, 52, wasn’t fired from the WB series.
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Shannen was let go due to an ultimatum from Alyssa, who threatened to sue for creating a hostile workplace environment. This happened after producer Jonathan Levin told the team, “We didn’t want to [fire Shannen], but we’ve been put in this position where it’s one or the other. It’s either [Shannen] or Alyssa.” Milano, Doherty, and Combs portrayed Phoebe, Prue, and Piper Halliwell on the first three seasons of Charmed before Doherty's character was unexpectedly written off in the season 3 finale, with Rose McGowan's Paige Matthews taking her place.
Doherty previously told Entertainment Tonight that her departure was due to "too much drama on the set and not enough passion for the work." However, in a conversation with Combs, she admitted that no one would leave a successful and enjoyable show that pays well. Reflecting on her departure, Doherty stated that she spent a year replaying the events in her mind, unable to remember any unkind behavior toward Milano.
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Milano has chosen not to publicly address Doherty and Combs' claims. However, during an interview with ET in 2021, she acknowledged taking responsibility for contributing to the issues between her and Doherty. "I believe that much of our conflict stemmed from a sense of competition, rather than the sisterhood that the show was meant to be about," she shared with the outlet. "I feel guilty about my role in that."
