Ian Ziering Honors Shannen Doherty With Emotional Tribute A Year After Her Passing

Instagram/@ianziering

An expression of mourning: Ian Ziering released this toxic mixture of tragic and beautifully heartfelt tribute to his late friend and former ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ co-star Shannen Doherty. It punches through the heart. The Instagram post is a whole year late after Doherty’s death; because grief really does take its time. So does healing.

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Ziering says that the very picture is worth a thousand words. The impromptu shot shows the former couple locked in a tight embrace at what seems like a convention. No fake smile, no forced pose, just pure friendship. The set that Ziering chose: he wore a cream jacket, and she kept it casual with a black top and jeans. Moments like those that one hardly ever gives a second thought about when they happen, but when these moments stop happening, they become the memories worth everything.”

Ziering’s caption is a masterclass in honoring someone with honesty. No sugarcoating. No platitudes. To him, Shannen was “strong, defiant, take-no-prisoners tough,” an apt description if one has had the pleasure of viewing an interview with Doherty. He said he didn’t feel the need to post anything when she first passed because, to him, grieving is never “a performance.” Isn’t that so refreshing nowadays, with social media having turned mourning into a spectator sport?

The comments section is dripping with the crying face emoji and virtual standing ovations. One user says, “Beautiful words for a beautiful woman,” while a third from Spain writes, “Cada persona es distinta. Cada persona conoce y enfrenta el dolor de distinta manera….” And yes, that’s what this is about. Another fan has really hit on that ridiculous pressure of having to grieve publicly: “Porque es normal hoy en día ver a qué público debe postear la gente todo, hasta cómo maneja una pérdida.”

He plunged deep even into their complicated past. Early on, he conceded they did clash-“two strong personalities will do that”-but there was always respect. Then it says: “beautiful chaos, the after-hours headline, the girl who could trash a hotel room and make the tabloids love her for it.” That’s Shannen: in a nutshell.

There was an especially touching throwback to the Doherty-and-Jennie-Garth-built-from-hell surprise party for him during the Vegas run of “Chippendales.” “God we laughed so hard,” he writes. That’s all that sticks. Not the drama, not the rumors. Those dumb loud nights filled with belly-laughter.

It has been a year. The shock has worn thin, but the void remains. And Ziering’s post says that grief really does not move along a straight line. It gets messy. It gets silent at times. And it’s okay to take some time to figure out how to say goodbye.”

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Rest in peace, Shan. The tabloids don’t know what they’re missing.