Shannen Doherty reflected on a poignant moment in the midst of her battle with cancer, recounting the realization that her marriage to Kurt Iswarienko was nearly over just before she underwent brain surgery upon discovering his alleged affair.
The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum recently opened up about the conclusion of her 11-year marriage to Kurt Iswarienko, revealing that she learned about his involvement with another woman just before her brain surgery.
“I went into that surgery early in the morning, having just found out that my marriage was essentially over,” Shannen revealed on the premiere episode of her new podcast, Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty, as reported by People. “I learned that my husband had been involved in an affair for two years.”
She added that despite her ex-husband’s desire to be present before her operation, she couldn’t bear it. “He wanted to be there, but I couldn’t face that surgery with him around. I felt utterly betrayed.”
Shannen filed for divorce from the photographer in April, citing “irreconcilable differences” as per documents obtained by E! News, marking the end of their marriage.
Despite the heartbreak from her third marriage ending (previously married to Rick Salomon from 2002 to 2003 and Ashley Hamilton from 1993 to 1994), Shannen remains a believer in love. “It was embarrassing,” she admitted on her podcast. “I’m horrified that I couldn’t sustain a relationship. I believe it’s partly my fault, but this one, I believe, is on him. I’ve had three failed marriages, yet I still have faith in love.”
Navigating divorce proceedings alongside her ongoing cancer battle was undeniably challenging for the 52-year-old. “To endure all of that,” she expressed, “while also grappling with the possibility of a divorce and seeking the truth.”
Initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and achieving remission in 2017, the disease resurfaced in 2019, metastasizing to her brain and recently spreading to her bones.
Nonetheless, she looks optimistically ahead. “I’m not finished living. I’m not finished loving. I’m not finished creating,” she declared to People in a November 29 interview. “I’m not finished—I’m not done.”
E! News reached out to representatives for Kurt Iswarienko but has yet to receive a response.
