Jennie Garth finally addressed Tori Spelling’s unexpected exit from their long-running 9021OMG podcast. The actress admitted the change left her feeling sad, even as she supported her longtime friend’s decision to move on.
Producer Amy Sugarman also clarified that Spelling made the choice herself. She said the team waited until now to explain the situation to listeners.
Jennie explains why Tori’s departure from 9021OMG has been difficult
During the latest 9021OMG episode, Garth acknowledged she struggled with Spelling’s departure after nearly six years of co-hosting.
“I’m sad that she’s not finishing this out with us. We started this together and I’m sad about that, if I’m honest, which I always am,” Garth said.
She quickly added that she respected her longtime friend’s decision. “I’m really happy for her … to choose herself,” Garth said.
Sugarman then shared more details behind the scenes. She explained that Spelling informed the team roughly two weeks earlier that she would not continue the podcast and added, “I’m sure was a very tough decision for her.”
“This was 100 percent her decision,” Sugarman said. “Two things can be true: we can be really bummed and disappointed that she’s not going to do Seasons 9 and 10 with us… while still wanting her to be happy and to be excited for her about the things she’s working on and does want to do.”
She also said the hosts agreed together that now felt like the right time to update fans.
Spelling first revealed her departure during an Instagram Live with former Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star Brian Austin Green. According to Entertainment Weekly, she explained that she wanted to focus on other projects.
Garth encouraged listeners to stay with the podcast despite the change. She teased special guests for the remaining rewatch episodes covering Seasons 9 and 10.
The podcast launched in November 2020 and reunited Garth and Spelling decades after they starred as Kelly Taylor and Donna Martin on Beverly Hills, 90210. The iconic series originally aired from 1990 through 2000 before the cast reunited for the 2019 revival, BH90210.
Their close friendship always remained central to the show. Speaking to People in 2020, Spelling explained, “We’ve been friends for 30 years. We’ve gone through decades of change as women, we’re moms now and it’s really the one relationship that has stayed all this time!”
She added, “Fans always say to us, ‘We can’t believe you’re actually best friends.’ We wanted to do a girlfriends podcast and then blended it with ‘90210’ to do it for the fans.”
TELL US – WILL YOU KEEP LISTENING TO THE 9021OMG PODCAST AFTER TORI SPELLING’S EXIT?
