Tori Spelling reveals the ‘biggest’ fear that kept her in Dean McDermott’s marriage

Tori Spelling stayed married to her estranged husband, Dean McDermott, “longer” because she was nervous about finding a man who respected her success.

“One of my biggest fears, and maybe this is what kept me staying longer, is that I feel like it’s hard in our world to be with a man and not feel helpless,” the actress explained of her previous series, “Beverly Hills 90210.” star Shannen Doherty participated in Thursday’s episode of her podcast “mispelling.”

Spelling, 50, added: “Not through our actions, but through our identity and our cla*sification by society.”

Further explaining her point of view, she told Doherty: “We’re not just women who make money. We’re women who have power, we’re women who have fame. I don’t know any different. I feel guilty.”

“For example, how can I be with a man who doesn’t feel like he’s less than me just because of my status?”

In response, Doherty, 53, reminded her old friend that there are also “men who have their own place.”

“Maybe in a completely different field. Maybe the guy is a partner at a major law firm,” she continued.

“So everything he did — going to school, graduating, working as an intern, working his way up the ladder — showed that he was a really hard worker who had a lot of perseverance and believed in himself enough to get there.”

However, the “Charmed” alumna sympathized with Spelling because it can be difficult “to be with a woman who can get a reservation at any restaurant.”

Despite Doherty’s efforts to comfort her, the “Spelling It Like It Is” author didn’t seem convinced that she would ever find a man who would be proud of her instead of feeling weak because of her.

“Everyone I’ve been in a relationship with, I always say, ‘There’s a lot going on with me,'” she noted. “I’m sorry, there’s a Tori spelling for everything.”

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Spelling was married to McDermott (47 years old) for 18 years before she filed for divorce last March, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason.

Spelling – who recently claimed that no one has broken her heart since her teenage love Brian Austin Green – listed June 17, 2023 as the date of their split.

Their breakup date falls on the same day the actor and TV presenter shocked fans by announcing their breakup on Instagram. The announcement reportedly shocked the former couple’s friends as well.

However, in November 2023, McDermott highlighted the fight “drunk and angry” and his subsequent suicide attempt caused the end of their rocky marriage.

“That was the night she became so angry and against the children and I saw the light, the last flicker of the flame go out in her eyes,” he recalled to the Daily Mail.

“I posted [the breakup message] Because I was at the end of my rope. I didn’t know what to do. “I burned everything down again.”

The couple share five children: Liam, 17, Stella, 15, Hattie, 12, Finn, 11, and Beau, 7.

McDermott moved on with chief account executive Lily Callow. They were first seen walking side by side at the Los Angeles Department of Social Services in October 2023.

Meanwhile, Spelling was seen chatting with advertising CEO Ryan Cramer in early November 2023, but their relationship appears to have fizzled out.