Shannen Doherty Faces Heartbreaking Divorce Amidst Stage IV Cancer Battle
Shannen Doherty, the star of Charmed, is going through a devastating divorce from her husband of 11 years, photographer Kurt Iswarienko, while simultaneously battling stage IV cancer.
On April 21, a representative for Doherty announced the actress's split from Iswarienko, stating, “Divorce is the last thing Shannen wanted. Unfortunately, she felt she was left with no other option. You can contact Kurt’s agent, Collier Grimm at PICTUREKID, as she is intimately involved.” This statement led many to believe that Iswarienko had cheated on the 52-year-old Beverly Hills, 90210 alum with his agent. A source told Star, “We don’t know the exact details yet, but we do know that Kurt broke Shannen’s heart.”
Court documents reveal the former couple separated in January, with Doherty seeking spousal support and requesting that the court deny any spousal support for Iswarienko, 48, if he were to ask for it. The source added, “Shannen is angry and wants ‘love rat’ Kurt to pay. She’s refusing to give him a dime. This was the ultimate betrayal — he shattered her world.”
The source also mentioned that Doherty discovered the truth accidentally around the holidays and was still in shock. No one has confirmed an affair, but the source believes Shannen wanted the world to know that the situation was Kurt's fault.
However, the timing is far from ideal as Doherty is fighting for her life. After her initial breast cancer diagnosis in 2015 and subsequent remission in 2017, Doherty announced on Good Morning America in 2020 that her cancer had returned as metastatic breast cancer and spread to her spine. She has since been sharing her journey with fans via social media. The source stated, “Shannen’s been to hell and back dealing with stage IV cancer, and the last thing she expected was for Kurt to betray her while she’s battling cancer. You don’t get any lower than that.”
Doherty previously praised Kurt for his support during her health struggles. In a heartfelt Instagram tribute to him in June 2019, she wrote, “I couldn’t love this man more. His love and support lift me up constantly. In short, I’m pretty damn lucky.”
Now, Doherty's friends and former costars, including Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth, and Jason Priestley, have rallied around her during this difficult time. Celebrities like Sarah Michelle Gellar, Rose McGowan, and Kristin Chenowith have also shown their support.
Despite her heartache and declining health, Doherty is determined to fight back. The source said, “She’s fought bigger battles than this. He’ll regret doing what he did to her. But her No. 1 priority will always be her life. She will not let this divorce affect her health.”