Rose McGowan Just Wrote The Best Note to Shannen Doherty

Rose McGowan calls out sexism and sets the record straight in her amazing note to Shannen Doherty and it’s probably the coolest thing ever.

Both were labelled as the “bad girls” of the early-2000’s and pitted against one another by the media. But yesterday, Rose McGowan set out to set the record straight in an amazing note to Shannen Doherty.

Way back in 2001, Shannen Doherty and Rose McGowan were painted as enemies by the media. On the WB series Charmed, Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs, and Doherty played three sisters and modern bad-ass witches fighting demons and saving the innocent weekly. When Doherty left the show on bad terms, Rose McGowan was brought in as her “replacement” sister.

Naturally, the two were pitted against one another as enemies in the media because it can’t be treated as anything less apparently. Doherty was said to be “difficult” and labelled as the “bad one”. Fifteen years later, Rose McGowan shared how that loomed over her as well in a post on Instagram inspired after someone shared an adorable piece of art featuring Rose and Shannen together.

Rose took to the caption of the photo with a scathing critique of the rampant sexism of the entertainment industry that also happens to read as a very sweet message of strength for Shannen. Check it out:

In the post, Rose notes that she is now able to see that the way they were treated was the result of a toxic and misogynistic environment that “couldn’t sanction two strong females in a traditionally subservient role – actress.” Wow, way to be on point with that one. She goes on to say that: “Fear was drilled into me from day one in this town & you were the barometer by which my behavior was judged. I was under a microscope, one false move and I’d be branded ‘difficult’ just like you. I think we all know what happens when girls here get out of line.”

Have you ever noticed that it’s typically only actresses painted as “difficult”? Whether it’s complaining about their cast mates or throwing tantrums on set, actresses are likely to be labelled as “difficult”, while their male counterparts are seen as “method” or “intense.” Luckily, Rose also notes that “they tried to crush us, but they couldn’t”.

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They were both able to come out on top, despite terrible circumstances and pressure. Rose also states simply that “we didn’t know it yet, but we were the good ones” and we admit that we agree that you both truly are.