Jennie Garth confirmed long-standing rumors that she and the late Shannen Doherty feuded on the Beverly Hills, 90210 set.
“I think we were both in the same position, really thrust into the spotlight, and we were written as characters to be against each other,” Garth, 54, told People in an interview published on Thursday, April 9. “That translated into the media and into the audience and then into the world’s perception of our relationship.”
The entire situation was “confusing” for both Garth and Doherty, who died at age 53 in July 2024 after a lengthy cancer battle.
Their real-life feud stemmed from the 1990s drama, in which Garth played Kelly Taylor and Doherty played Brenda Walsh. Their characters were best friends until season 3 when Kelly started hooking up with Brenda’s boyfriend, Dylan McKay (Luke Perry).
“It’s embarrassing to say, but I was just looking at a Teen Bop magazine the other day, looking at old pictures,” Garth told People. “I was looking on one page that was like, ‘Oh, Jennie Garth, great life, Midwestern values. What a sweetie,’ and then flip the page over and it was like, ‘Join the I Hate Brenda Fan Club.’ It really dawned on me it wasn’t just us.”
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She added, “This energy was coming at us from everywhere and pitting us against each other.”
Garth knew that the drama between Kelly and Brenda was “a better story for the show,” but it allowed for strange dynamics between the two actresses.
“I just realized how terrible that was, how terrible it was to put us in that position. Nobody was guiding us,” she added. “Nobody was getting therapy then. Nobody was talking to us about things. We were both just fending for ourselves.”
Garth continued, “We were doing the best we could. And sometimes strong women will clash, especially when they’re young and uneducated about friendship and the importance of it.”
Garth noted she is an Aries, and so was Doherty. The two women didn’t realize how similar they really were at the time.
“There were a lot of things going on, adult things happening for both of us, but [the media attention] brought [the rivalry] to the forefront more than the friendship and the admiration that we really did innately have for one another,” Garth added. “At the end of the day, we really did have a respect for one another as strong women who have lasted a long time in this industry.”
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After Doherty’s July 2024 death, Garth spoke out in a social media statement honoring her late costar.
“I am still processing my tremendous grief over the loss of my long time friend Shannen, the woman I have often described as one of the strongest people I have ever known,” she wrote. “Our connection was real and honest. We were so often pitted against each other but none of that reflected the truth of our real relationship which was one built on mutual respect and admiration. She was courageous, passionate, determined and very loving and generous.”
