The Charmed Drama: Alyssa Has Threatened To Sue
A deep dive into the Charmed cast's allegations and the drama surrounding Shannen Doherty's firing from the show.
The Allegations and Firing
The Charmed cast alleges that Shannen Doherty was fired from the show after being threatened by co-star Alyssa Milano. Charmed was a TV series about three sisters who discover they are descendants of witches. The series ran for eight seasons from 1998 to 2006. In addition to Milano and Doherty, Charmed starred Holly Marie Combs, Rose McGowan, Brian Krause, and Dorian Gregory.
Prue, Piper, and Phoebe looking at a vase in Charmed
As per the Let’s Be Clear podcast, Doherty was reportedly fired from Charmed after threats from co-star Milano. Combs explained that Milano had been “documenting every time she felt uncomfortable on set” as part of a threat “to sue [them] for a hostile workplace environment.” This baffled Doherty, who did not “remember being mean to her on set,” but was forced to leave the series. As she is separated from the situation, Doherty reflects that she has to “accept that a situation happened.” Combs noted:
Paige and Phoebe look off to the side in Charmed season 6.
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. We were told [by Alyssa] it's her or [Shannen] and Alyssa has threatened to sue us for a hostile workplace environment.
The Halliwell sisters look serious while looking into the distance at a demon in Charmed season 7.
Doherty adds: I lived a year after that sort of replaying everything in my brain and really trying to find those moments. I don't ever remember being mean to her on set. I remember an episode I directed where she did something on the Christmas break and they asked me to work around some things with her and I had no problem with it. I couldn't have been more kind and understanding. As you get older, you accept that a situation happened. Acceptance and moving on with your life does not equate to forgiveness. You just learn a lesson and look at somebody differently and move on.
Piper and Phoebe look frustrated while standing in the kitchen of the Manor in Charmed season 8.
The Charmed Drama Explained
The production of Charmed was steeped in a lot of drama. This drama especially came between Milano and her co-stars, which is alluded to in the above quote. Doherty spoke about her negative experience on set, saying that she “cried every single night” after filming Charmed. Combs noted a “lack of awareness of the bigger broader picture” among the cast and crew, which led to misunderstandings.
Prue looks over at Pheobe who's holding the Book of Shadows open in Charmed season 1.
Doherty eventually left the show after Charmed season 3. To justify her exit, the Charmed season 3 finale sees Doherty’s Prue get attacked by a demonic assassin, and later it is revealed that this attack killed her. From the most recent news, it is now clear that Doherty’s character was killed off because of her unjust firing from the series.
It is quite unfortunate for a show of this nature to be marred by such constant drama. Though the Halliwell sisters seemed bonded on screen, the friendliness wore off when the cameras stopped rolling. For viewers still upset that Charmed killed off Prue so early in the run of the series, Doherty’s retelling makes the news all the more upsetting.
