"Piece of paper doesn't really mean anything" - Shannen Doherty opens up about lesson she learned from marriage to Kurt Iswarienko
American actress Shannen Doherty shared an insight into the complexities of marriage and a lesson she learned from her past during the latest episode of her Let's Be Clear podcast. In the episode, which was released on April 15, 2024, the Beverly Hill, 90210, alum opened up about her views on matrimony in regards to her marriage to ex-husband Kurt Iswarienko.
Doherty had a heartfelt conversation with her former fiancé and longtime friend Rob Weiss on the Let's Be Clear podcast.
"I love the idea of marriage. I believe in that, but after my last brutal marriage, what it taught me is that a piece of paper doesn't really mean anything," the actress said.
Doherty seemed to be reflecting on her experiences a year after filing for divorce from Iswarienko. The actress, who has been married thrice, said that her perspective on marriage has evolved significantly. She has previously been married to Ashley Hamilton and Rick Salomon, apart from Kurt.
"It doesn't stop a person from lying," she added.
Shannen Doherty reflects on marriage - "It isn't what defines a strong relationship"
While expressing her affection for the idea of marriage, Shannen Doherty emphasized that it isn't the sole determinant of a strong relationship. During the podcast, Doherty hinted at harboring doubts before her 2011 wedding to Kurt Iswarienko. Reflecting on this, she admitted that following that she had learned to listen to her gut.
"I learned something, which is I need to listen to my gut and not be scared of disrupting things," Doherty noted.
The Charmed star's marriage to Kurt ended in April 2023, when she filed for divorce. At the time, her representative conveyed that divorce was not Doherty's desired outcome, stating that it was the "last thing Shannen wanted."
Following the breakup, the star publicly accused Kurt of infidelity amid her ongoing cancer battle. She denied rumors of an open marriage, labeling such reports as "an absolute lie." It is worth noting that Kurt has not publicly responded to Doherty's allegations.
Reflecting on her journey, particularly in the face of her ongoing battle with cancer, Doherty revealed a shift in her perspective.
"For me now, I don't want to do the grind anymore in my life. One of the beautiful things that cancer has really taught me is to appreciate the peace, appreciate the fact that even though my life is disrupted to a certain degree just from cancer and treatments, it has brought me so much knowledge and changed me drastically as a human being," Shannen said.
Despite acknowledging the beauty in others' ability to navigate the complexities of marriage, she emphasized that it's not a path she sees for herself anymore. She said that it wasn't something she could do anymore.
Shannen Doherty's journey through relationships and health battles
Shannen Doherty describes her love life as a blend of happiness and pain. The actress has been engaged three times and married thrice as well. She was married to Ashley Hamilton from 1993 to 1994. Shannen then got married to Rick Salomon in 2002 but the marriage was annulled in 2003.
The actress married Kurt Iswarienko in 2011 after dating him for years. However, she filed for divorce in 2023. She stated that the reason behind this was his infidelity amidst her battle with cancer.
Doherty's battle with breast cancer was revealed in 2015 and captured headlines. In an interview with People magazine, Shannen Doherty shared details about her ongoing battle with stage 4 breast cancer.
"I’m not done with living. I’m not done with loving. I’m not done with creating. When you ask yourself, 'Why me? Why did I get cancer?' That leads you to look for the bigger purpose in life," she reflected.
Shannen Doherty is best known for her roles in the shows Beverly Hills, 90210, Charmed, and Fortress.
