Shannen Doherty opens up about impact of ex-husband's infidelity on her mental health

Shannen Doherty discusses the emotional toll of her ex-husband Kurt Iswarienko's infidelity and their ongoing divorce

Shannen Doherty recently discussed the profound effect her ex-husband Kurt Iswarienko's infidelity had on her mental health. In an episode of the "Let’s Talk Off Camera" podcast with Kelly Ripa, the 53-year-old actress revealed the emotional turmoil she endured following the discovery of Iswarienko's affair.

“I was really, really in a dark place for, like, nine months after I found out what he did,” Doherty shared. She described the aftermath of the affair as a "whole fiasco" that significantly affected her well-being, adding that she has only recently fully recovered from the ordeal. “When I found out, it was like a whole fiasco that it's only recently that I've completely recovered where I have zero [feelings] for him anymore.”

Doherty also touched on the ongoing difficulties of her divorce proceedings, which have left her uncertain about her future, particularly concerning new relationships. “I don’t know where I am with dating,” she admitted. “It's only been a year since the whole fiasco with my husband, and I'm still fighting a divorce, and it's still so hard and raw.”

The "Charmed" actress, who is battling terminal stage 4 breast cancer, explained that her health issues have compounded the challenges of her divorce. "Obviously, divorce is not easy, especially when you really loved someone,” she said. “And I did love my husband. And when you get so hurt by their actions that you just feel betrayed and like a sucker, it's really hard.”

Doherty filed for divorce from Iswarienko in April 2023 after 11 years of marriage. Recent court documents indicate ongoing negotiations over spousal support, with Doherty accusing Iswarienko of not cooperating with the legal process. “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,” she stated in the filings.

Iswarienko's attorney, Katherine Heersema, refuted these claims, stating, “Kurt is not ‘simply wait[ing] for Shannen to die. He wants the best for Shannen and he wants both of them to be able to put this case behind them and move forward.”

Doherty also addressed past relationship issues on her own podcast, "Let’s Be Clear," noting that infidelity has been a recurring problem for her. She highlighted the lack of respect from past partners, stating, “What I don't understand and what I can never wrap my head around is why someone thinks that they don't owe you as a human being respect.”