Shannen Doherty and Jason Priestley: What Really Happened Between the Walsh Twins

Growing up in the '90s, you couldn't escape them. Brenda and Brandon Walsh were the heartbeat of Beverly Hills, 90210. They were the "Midwestern moral compass" in a sea of zip code scandals. But if you look back at the actual history of Shannen Doherty and Jason Priestley, it’s a lot messier, more human, and frankly more touching than the tabloids ever let on.

People always want to talk about the "diva" behavior or the friction on set. Sure, that happened. But by the time Shannen passed away in July 2024, the narrative had completely shifted. They weren't just old co-stars. They were family.

The "Incestuous" Chemistry Everyone Ignored

Here’s something kinda weird that Shannen herself brought up on her podcast, Let’s Be Clear, just months before she died. She and Jason had this undeniable onscreen chemistry. Even though they were playing twins, there was this—as she put it—"sexual undertone" that was totally bizarre.

Remember that 1992 Rolling Stone cover? Shannen is literally straddling Jason. It's an iconic photo, but looking at it now, you realize how much the producers and photographers were leaning into their real-life spark. Jason admitted later that a big reason that chemistry existed was simply because they genuinely liked each other. They were kids—he was 21, she was 19—thrown into a level of fame that most people can't even imagine. They had bodyguards. They had to shred their scripts so fans wouldn't steal them from the trash. When you're in a foxhole like that, you bond hard.

Why Shannen Was Actually Fired (According to Her and Jason)

For decades, the story was simple: Shannen was difficult, she fought with Jennie Garth, and Tori Spelling’s dad eventually gave her the axe. But in early 2024, Jason and Shannen sat down for a raw conversation that changed the context.

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Shannen admitted she was "unprofessional." She was late to set. She was going out to clubs because she could finally get in. But there was a darker side. She was in a "horrible marriage" at the time, and her father was seriously ill. She didn't tell anyone. She put on a mask.

"I sort of wish I would have been sat down and looked at and said, 'Listen, the end result is going to be this, you are going to get fired,'" Shannen told Jason on her podcast.

Jason’s response was heartbreakingly honest. He told her he wished he’d known. As the "quarterback" of the cast, he felt he could have handled it with more compassion if he’d understood the wreckage her personal life was in. He actually felt guilty. It’s a rare moment of celebrity accountability that you don't see often.

The Memoir Drama and the Road Back

It wasn't always smooth sailing after the show. In 2014, Jason released a memoir. In it, he wrote about Shannen being a diva—specifically mentioning a story about her complaining that a town car wasn't a limo. Shannen fired back, suggesting Jason’s 2002 race car accident (which was severe) might have messed with his memory.

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They stayed in a "cold war" for a bit. But when Shannen was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, the walls came down. Jason became one of her biggest cheerleaders. He publicly called her a "tough kid" and a "fighter." The petty stuff from the '90s didn't matter anymore.

Dealing with "Double Grief"

By 2026, Jason has been very open about how the loss of Shannen and Luke Perry (who died in 2019) changed him. He recently appeared on Jennie Garth’s podcast, I Choose Me, and talked about the difference between the two deaths.

Luke’s death was a shock. A stroke. Out of nowhere.
Shannen’s death was different.

Because she was sick for so long, Jason made a conscious effort to say everything he needed to say. He visited her just four or five weeks before she passed. He’s been honest about the fact that she was "masking" her illness—she looked so good and had so much energy that even he was surprised when she finally succumbed.

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But he has closure. He told the Mirror that there was "nothing left unsaid" between them. That’s a powerful place to be with a friend you’ve known for 35 years.

The 90210 Legacy Today

So, where does that leave the rest of the gang? They actually have a WhatsApp group. It’s active. They send each other "dad jokes" and support each other through the "insane" reality of losing their core members so young.

Honestly, the story of Shannen Doherty and Jason Priestley isn't about a TV show. It’s about how people grow up. They started as "twins" in a fictional Beverly Hills, went through a messy "divorce" when she was fired, had a public falling out as adults, and ended up as incredibly close friends who respected each other's battles.

If you’re looking for a lesson in their relationship, it’s probably this:

• Transparency matters. Shannen regretted not being open about her home life.
• Grudges are heavy. They both realized that holding onto 20-year-old set drama was a waste of time.
• Say the words. Jason’s peace of mind comes from the fact that he didn't wait until it was too late to tell her he loved her.

To really honor that legacy, take a page out of Jason’s book. If there’s someone from your past you’re "all good" with but haven't spoken to in years, send the text. Don't wait for a "final words" situation to find closure.