Shannen Doherty has filed for divorce in the midst of her stage 4 cancer battle, with her publicist pouring fuel on the fire of speculation by suggesting the actress’s husband’s agent is “intimately involved” in the split.
Reports emerged at the weekend claiming that Doherty and her partner of 11 years, Kurt Iswarienko, were separating, with the former’s representative confirming the news in an emailed statement.
Publicist Leslie Sloane said on Saturday: “Divorce is the last thing Shannen wanted. “Unfortunately, she felt she was left with no other option.”
It’s said that Doherty filed for divorce last Friday, April 21, with Sloane stating that the actress felt as though she had no other choice.
“You can contact Kurt’s agent, Collier Grimm at PICTUREKID, as she is intimately involved,’” Sloane added.
Though Sloane didn’t go into further detail as to how Iswarienko’s agent was “intimately involved” – indeed, nothing has been clarified on that front – the words have stoked the fires burning beneath the rumor mill, with folk left wondering if perhaps Iswarienko has been unfaithful.
Naturally, sympathies are with Doherty, who announced in 2020 that she was battling a recurrence of breast cancer that had progressed to stage four.
“I definitely have days where I say, ‘Why me?’ And then I go, ‘Well, why not me? Who else? Who else besides me deserves this?’ None of us do,” Doherty told Good Morning America.
After her first battle with cancer ended in remission in 2017, Doherty told People magazine that her brush with the disease had changed her marriage to Iswarienko for the better.
“Cancer solidified us,” she said.
“Kurt and I have a much deeper appreciation for each other now.”
Shannen, who rose to prominence aged 11 when she starred as Jenny Wilder in Little House on the Prairie, has enjoyed a stellar career, appearing in hit TV shows such as Beverly Hill, 90210, and Charmed.
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Sadly, the 52-year-old actress was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. She decided to share her diagnosis with the public, keeping fans updated on her treatment via social media.
In 2020, Shannen said that her breast cancer was now metastatic in her spine.
“It’s going to come out in a matter of days or a week that — I’m stage IV. So my cancer came back. And that’s why I’m here,” she told Good Morning America in 2020 and continued: “I don’t think I’ve processed it. It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways.”
The ’90s icon also revealed that she would record video messages to say goodbye to her loved ones when the time comes – but believes that she will live another 10 to 15 years.
We’re sending strength and love and hope to Shannen Doherty at this difficult time.
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