Eric Dane’s recent red carpet appearance with filmmaker Janell Shirtcliff has stirred surprise and heartbreak, particularly for his alleged girlfriend, Priya Jain, who was reportedly unaware of any romantic connection between Dane and Shirtcliff.
According to a source speaking with Page Six, Jain was “blindsided” when the 52-year-old Grey’s Anatomy star appeared with Shirtcliff, 41, at the Los Angeles premiere of his new series Countdown. “They never broke up,” the source said, referring to Dane and Jain’s relationship. “She had no idea about the situation.”
Dane and Shirtcliff have reportedly been in an “on-and-off relationship for over three years and care deeply for each other,” an insider told Entertainment Tonight. Meanwhile, Jain, 27, began dating Dane last summer and believed by November 2024 that their relationship had become exclusive—shortly before Dane was diagnosed with ALS, a progressive neurological disease.
The actor made his diagnosis public in April, a moment that Jain reportedly met with care and compassion. “She was devastated by the diagnosis,” the source said, “but stayed by Dane’s side.”
However, Entertainment Tonight reports that Shirtcliff was also a significant emotional support during that period. “Eric asked Janell to be there for him during this time, and she wanted to show up for him,” a source said.
Jain’s involvement with Dane appeared to be serious. Sources say she spent nearly every night at his home, kept personal belongings there, and had formed a bond with Dane’s two daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, from his previous marriage to actress Rebecca Gayheart.
Despite their 2018 separation, Gayheart recently shared that she and Dane remain close, describing their current relationship as “staying a family” and being “the best of friends.” Jain and Dane had even marked their connection with matching star tattoos, and she reportedly allowed Dane to tattoo her at home using his own tattoo equipment.
Insiders told Page Six that Dane and Jain were last together as recently as last weekend, with the last public sighting of them occurring in mid-May.
As speculation swirls and feelings remain raw, it remains unclear whether Dane’s relationships with Jain and Shirtcliff overlapped or if the situation was a miscommunication. Either way, the emotional fallout has left Jain reeling—and fans wondering what’s really going on behind the scenes.