One of the castmates of the rebooted Charmed is taking some of the original castmembers to task on Twitter.
According to TVLine, Rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs, two of the original Charmed stars, recently held an Instagram Live in which they weren’t fans of the new series. After an Instagram viewer commented that the original series was taken off of Netflix, Combs said she believes that “when you search for [Charmed on Netflix], they want you to find the new Charmed and not the old people.” McGowan added that she thinks the new series “sucks,” despite admitting that she hasn’t watched it.
“I haven’t seen it, I can’t say that. I’ve never seen it,” she said. “I’m happy that people have jobs. But it can still suck.”
The comments from the actresses led Sarah Jeffery, who stars on the new series, to sound off on Twitter Monday.
“You know, I saw this earlier and I refrained from saying anything. I thought, better to just let them shout into the abyss. But I do want to say, I find it sad and quite frankly pathetic to see grown women behaving this way,” she wrote. “I truly hope they find happiness elsewhere, and not in the form of putting down other WOC. I would be embarrassed to behave this way. Peace and love to y’all.”
1/2 You know, I saw this earlier and I refrained from saying anything. I thought, better to just let them shout into the abyss. But I do want to say, I find it sad and quite frankly pathetic to see grown women behaving this way. https://t.co/MuyZCZjbCp
— Sarah Jeffery (@sarahjeffery) October 13, 2020
2/2 I truly hope they find happiness elsewhere, and not in the form of putting down other WOC. I would be embarrassed to behave this way. Peace and love to y’all. https://t.co/MuyZCZjbCp
— Sarah Jeffery (@sarahjeffery) October 13, 2020
She also tweeted a picture of her father and Shannen Doherty, who also starred on the original series. “He approached her saying his daughter was a new Charmed one (pre-covid!),” she wrote. “He told me she was so kind, thrilled for us, and excited to take a picture. She sent her love.”
In other news, my dad met the lovely @DohertyShannen on set once whilst standing in. He approached her saying his daughter was a new Charmed one (pre-covid!). He told me she was so kind, thrilled for us, and excited to take a picture. She sent her love. ???? pic.twitter.com/io3DhalZZY
— Sarah Jeffery (@sarahjeffery) October 13, 2020
The insistence on dismissing the new Charmed has created a new round of backlash for the McGowan and Combs, with Twitter users scolding the actresses for doubling down on women of color; Jeffrey is Black and Indigenous Canadian, Madeleine Mantock is Afro-Caribbean and white, and Melonie Diaz is Latinx. In the series, Jeffrey and Mantock’s characters are sisters and Diaz’s is their half-sister.
They that mad to see WOC of color in a role but if it were a bunch bottle blondes with blue eyes in the reboot they would fawning over them! We know the reason they are mad. pic.twitter.com/H2qseuFTl2
— The Door Is Closed (@CapriJas) October 13, 2020
this is so upsetting to see. i had respect for holly marie combs at least but this was really disappointing
— heleyna (@luddingtxns) October 13, 2020
This is embarrassing behavior on their part, on top of just being rude and horrible. The new show takes the spirit of the old but makes it better, fills it with heart, and is more relatable to more young women. I will never be able to look at these two without thinking of this.
— Diana ➡️ Neverland 5e Setting on DriveThruRPG (@Superdillin) October 13, 2020
Mantock herself commented about the incident on Twitter, tweeting a gif of Amara La Negra looking disgusted.
— Madeleine Mantock (@missmads) October 14, 2020
Another actor, Forrest Gump‘s Geoffrey Blake, wrote that he’d worked on both sets and felt the new cast “was far more welcoming and professional.” In a follow-up tweet, he only praised Alyssa Milano, another original Charmed cast member and added that “one of the actors in this video was rude, evasive, and very unprofessional.”
As one of a very few actors who worked on both shows. I can tell you the current cast was far more welcoming and professional. Sensed no on set tension amongst the cast. My first day of shooting on the new show was my birthday and the cast and crew made me a cake! Be proud guys!
— Geoffrey Blake (@GeoffBlake4) October 13, 2020
I would say however. Alyssa was ingratiating and a true pros pro. The work she is doing for social justice, women rights, and the democratic party is exemplary. I can also say one of the actors in this video was rude, evasive, and very unprofessional.
— Geoffrey Blake (@GeoffBlake4) October 13, 2020
As reported by E! News, Combs has since responded to Jeffrey’s Twitter statements. Combs wrote on Twitter, “That’s some bulls***. And a lot of it. Clearly. People speaking, excuse me typing, derogatory accusations of a person’s character despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary because of a difference in opinions about a tv show is just plain wrong. And also personal gain honey.”
That’s some bullshit. And a lot of it. Clearly. People speaking, excuse me typing, derogatory accusations of a person’s character despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary because of a difference in opinions about a tv show is just plain wrong. And also personal gain honey.
— Holly Marie Combs Ryan (@H_Combs) October 13, 2020
Her response has led to more backlash, with some commenters calling Combs out on her behavior on social media.
I don’t think she made an accusation. I think she made an observation. Y’all are really going hard against the show that finally gives your fans of color a chance to see Charmed ones that look like them. I wish y’all could understand why that matters. It hurts that you don’t.
— Christopher T. White (@ChrisToddWhite) October 13, 2020
No. You know what’s bullshit? Being disrespectful to an entire cast and crew who are doing their damndest to make a show which makes people happy, touching on multiple cultures, through a pandemic no less. Just because you “didn’t mean it that way” doesn’t mean you didn’t do it.
— Angelica ⭐???? (@Mrs_sunshiine) October 13, 2020
You have been horrible to the reboot cast and crew from the beginning and now you are playing the victim? Just stop, please.
I absolutely idolised Piper growing up, but your behaviour has completely turned me off the original series.
— Sam ✨ Flywitchesfly ✨ (@flywitchesfly) October 13, 2020
I love both versions each fit the generation at the time the orginal strong female cast. The reboot strong woc cast and lgbtq community. In my opinion if you can’t say something nice dnt say anything. Keep it moving. pic.twitter.com/q6q7AdoYwH
— angel (@angel68851142) October 13, 2020
This isn’t the first time the two casts have clashed, as the original actresses have talked down about the series multiple many times. When the reboot was first announced in 2018, Combs tweeted about the new cast never being able to gain the adoration of original fans. “Charmed belongs to the four [original actresses], our vast amount of writers, crews and predominately the fans. FYI you will not fool them by owning a title/stamp. So bye.” Jeffrey responded in part, “When my character is challenged, when there is futile yet harmful noise about how we are either incapable or doomed, I will vociferously defend myself and my sisters.”
READ MORE:
11 Afro-Latina Actresses Who Could Have Been Cast In The ‘Charmed’ Reboot
Photo credit: CW