Elizabeth Taylor: The Scandalous Affair That Ended a Friendship and Marriage

In a shocking turn of events, Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor allegedly pressured her best friend, Debbie Reynolds, into divorcing her husband after stealing him away.

This scandalous affair rocked the entertainment industry and left Reynolds devastated.

However, Taylor is now reflecting on her own tumultuous life, including her time in rehab.

Today, at 12:45 pm, BBC 2 will air the iconic 1963 movie Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor.

It was during the filming of this epic film that Taylor met and eventually married her fifth husband, Richard Burton.

Their relationship lasted ten years, with a divorce and a short-lived remarriage in between.

But before all of this, Taylor had already caused a major rift by stealing Reynolds' husband.

Both Taylor and Reynolds had risen to fame in Hollywood around the same time.

They were once child stars who successfully transitioned into mature actresses.

As close friends, they often spent time together and even double-dated.

However, everything changed when Taylor's third husband, Mike Todd, tragically died in a plane crash.

Reynolds' husband, Eddie Fisher, offered comfort to his grieving friend, which eventually led to a sordid affair between Fisher and Taylor.

One night, Reynolds called Taylor's hotel room for a friendly chat, only to be shocked when her husband answered the phone.

It became clear that Fisher and Taylor were involved romantically.

Heartbroken and betrayed, Reynolds confronted Fisher, who admitted to being in love with Taylor and wanting a divorce.

Reynolds, who had initially been against divorce due to her religious beliefs, reluctantly gave in to their demands.

She warned Fisher that Taylor would eventually discard him, but he chose to pursue a relationship with the Hollywood beauty anyway.

Reynolds was deeply hurt by the affair, especially since she had considered Taylor a close friend.

Looking back, she admitted that she wasn't entirely surprised by Fisher's actions, considering Taylor's extraordinary beauty and allure.

She also acknowledged that the affair had been highly scandalous and had caused her immense pain.

Despite the betrayal, Reynolds managed to find happiness again.

Just a year later, in 1960, she remarried, this time to Harry Karl, a shoe store owner.

Meanwhile, Taylor moved on from Fisher and fell in love with Richard Burton during the filming of Cleopatra.

Reynolds' warning had come true: Taylor left Fisher for Burton after a short-lived marriage.

From then on, Taylor and Reynolds rarely crossed paths again.

Reynolds may have lost her husband, but she gained a second chance at love and continued to pursue her own successful career.

The scandal between Elizabeth Taylor, Debbie Reynolds, and Eddie Fisher remains one of Hollywood's most shocking affairs.

It serves as a reminder of the complexities and betrayals that can occur even among the closest of friends.