The dramatic final days of ‘Charmed’ actress Shannen Doherty have sparked a fierce backlash against her estranged husband. Doherty, who courageously battled breast cancer, passed away recently after her diagnosis took a severe turn.
Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, and after a period of remission, the disease made a heartbreaking return in 2020.
Tragically, the cancer spread to her brain and bones, leading to her death on Saturday, July 13, at the young age of 53.
In a twist that has shocked many, just before her untimely passing, Doherty finalized her divorce from her estranged husband, Kurt Iswarienko. The couple had been married since 2011, but Doherty filed for divorce in April 2023.
Only a day before her death, Doherty and Iswarienko reached a settlement. According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Doherty signed off on waiving spousal support on July 12 and consented to an uncontested dissolution of their marriage, including an arrangement on their property.
The divorce was far from amicable. Doherty claimed that Iswarienko was “waiting for her to die” to avoid responsibilities. In her own words from court paperwork: “It is simply not right that Kurt be permitted to prolong our divorce in hopes that I die before he is required to pay me while he continues to live his life and shirk his responsibilities to his dying wife of more than 11 years.” Iswarienko’s attorney, however, has denied these allegations.
In light of the divorce and Doherty’s subsequent death, a close friend of Doherty has come forward with scathing remarks about Iswarienko. Tara Furiani expressed her grief and anger on LinkedIn, pointing fingers at Iswarienko for adding to Doherty’s suffering during her final days.
Furiani wrote: “She had stage 4 breast cancer that has metastasized to numerous parts of her body, death was inevitable and she knew that… made peace with that. But, her pain and suffering in the months preceding it didn’t have to be so profound if her husband was just a decent human being. Could have just displayed a little humanity to his dying wife.”
She continued, lamenting the lack of support from Iswarienko and stressing the importance of being kind, especially to those who are suffering: “Life is so hard… life is extra hard with cancer and without the support you thought you’d have. If you have the opportunity to be a decent person, take it. You have no idea what people are dealing with and going through.”
Furiani also urged people to prioritize their health and attend regular screenings, emphasizing that early detection can save lives: “We shouldn’t be losing people anymore to this.”
As the story unfolds, representatives for Iswarienko have been reached out for comments.