As the actor continues to confront his ALS diagnosis, his public debut with girlfriend Janell Shirtcliff raised more eyebrows than support, igniting a wave of speculation, confusion, and criticism across social media.
On June 18, 2025, Eric Dane attended the “Countdown” premiere and after-party with his girlfriend, Janell Shirtcliff, sparking a storm of online reactions.
The event took place in Los Angeles, California, and marked the first time Dane and Shirtcliff posed together publicly on a red carpet. Dane wore a white T-shirt beneath a distressed, off-white cardigan with beige corduroy trousers and dark-rimmed glasses.
Shirtcliff opted for a sleeveless burgundy pinstripe vest dress, accessorized with layered gold necklaces, rose-tinted sunglasses, and a green handbag.
Online, reactions to the couple’s outing ranged from confused to critical. “That doesn’t look like his wife. Is that his daughter?” one person wrote. Another echoed the sentiment with, “I thought his daughter [sic]. Yikes.” A third netizen simply asked, “Is that his daughter?!”
Some were more focused on what the appearance might mean in light of Dane’s previous statements. “In his interview he said he leans on Rebecca through his disease, and hard times. I’m confused,” one person shared.
Another asked, “Isn’t he still married?” while someone else bluntly questioned, “Who is he holding hands with?!” Beyond the confusion over his relationship status, several viewers expressed discomfort with the couple’s dynamic.
One person suggested the woman beside Dane didn’t seem to offer emotional support, while another commented that she might not be equipped to care for him. A third noted a lack of connection between them, saying he appeared uneasy while she came off as overly dependent.
The public response comes as Dane continues to navigate his recent amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis and newly public romance. Shirtcliff is a photographer and director who has shared an on-and-off bond with the “Euphoria” star for over three years.
According to reports, the two have remained deeply connected, and Shirtcliff has been by his side at his request during this challenging period.
Dane first revealed his battle with the neurodegenerative condition earlier this year and then sat down for an emotional interview with “Good Morning America.”
During the segment, he spoke candidly about his health and the importance of having a strong support system. Dane became especially reflective when speaking about his estranged wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart.
Despite their prior separation, Dane described her as his closest confidante, saying, “I talk to her every day,” and crediting her as his “biggest champion” and “most stalwart supporter.”
The couple, who share two daughters, Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13, have grown closer since his diagnosis, with Dane emphasizing how they’ve evolved into better friends and co-parents.
Around the same time Dane went public with his condition, Gayheart filed to dismiss the divorce petition she originally submitted years back. Though their relationship status remains officially undefined, Dane made it clear that her presence in his life remains foundational.
Shirtcliff has also been by the Hollywood star’s side and those close to him also noted that the actor has been in good spirits and displaying resilience in the face of adversity, describing him as someone handling the diagnosis with “strength” and calling him “a true warrior.”
By April 2025, the Hollywood star stepped out in Los Angeles, California to visit a friend, marking his first public sighting since revealing his ALS diagnosis.
The “Euphoria” actor’s physical appearance sparked a wave of strong reactions online from netizens who expressed worry over how much weight he had lost and how fragile he looked.
Clad in a relaxed cream cardigan layered over a plain white t-shirt, Dane was photographed standing quietly on the sidewalk beside a friend. The actor’s casual beige trousers and black sneakers rounded out his look.
The 52-year-old, who also wore reading glasses around his neck as well as a pair framing his eyes, appeared visibly slimmer, with a slightly hunched posture and hands loosely clenched by his sides.
With his salt-and-pepper hair and white beard neatly trimmed, and his calm expression, Dane gave off a quiet resolve. He stood outside with his friend, who was dressed in a bold red sports shirt, cap, and black shades. The duo was captured staring at a camera beside a vehicle out of view.
The images of Dane’s outing quickly circulated online, drawing a wave of emotional reactions from netizens. Many were struck by the visible changes in his appearance. One person remarked, “He looks thin,” while another observed, “Is it me or has he lost weight and looking fragile already? Oh boy how awful [sic]!”
Echoing the concern, someone else wrote, “He looks so frail. 😢.” A few online spectators were taken aback by how swiftly the illness seems to have progressed.
“It’s gotten ahold [sic] of him quick. ❤️,” opined one commenter, while another penned, “This is soul crushing [sic].” Others expressed heartfelt sorrow and disbelief, with comments ranging from shock and sadness to supportive words and prayers for the actor’s strength.
Among them were calls for privacy and respect, with one Instagrammer simply stating, “How sad. Leave him alone 😢🙏🏻.”
Amid the outpouring, a mix of grief and affection lingered across the responses — from the anguished, “Not Eric Daneeeee [sic] 😭,” to messages of encouragement and well wishes such as, “Prayers and blessings 🙏🏻✝️.” The emotional tone reflected just how deeply Dane’s public reveal had affected countless people.
Dane publicly shared that he has been diagnosed with ALS during an exclusive interview with People magazine. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,” added the “One Fast Move” talent.
Known for his roles in “Grey’s Anatomy” and, more recently, as Cal Jacobs in HBO’s “Euphoria,” Dane chose to maintain a sense of normalcy amid the life-altering diagnosis.
In the same interview, he shared his determination to continue working, divulging, “I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set [sic] of ‘Euphoria’ next week.” According to People, production for the highly anticipated third season of the hit drama began on April 14, 2025.
Dane’s family has been a pillar of strength during this time. While speaking to the media outlet, he also made a heartfelt plea, “I kindly ask that you give my family and I [sic] privacy during this time.”
ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare and progressive neurodegenerative illness that gradually destroys the nerve cells responsible for voluntary muscle movement.
According to the Mayo Clinic, early signs often include muscle twitching or weakness in a limb, followed by slurred speech, but the condition eventually strips away a person’s ability to speak, walk, eat, and breathe independently. This is so because the illness affects nerve cells in the spine and brain.
As per the Muscular Dystrophy Association, unfortunately, there is no cure for ALS. While the average life expectancy post-diagnosis is typically three to five years, some individuals have defied the odds and lived much longer.
Aside from Dane, several other public figures have been diagnosed with the disease. Among them are former NFL player Eric Stevens, late iconic artist Roberta Flack, late “Jericho” star Kenneth Mitchell, and late legendary singer Joe Bonsall.
The late physicist, Stephen Hawking, also famously battled ALS for a significant amount of time, redefining what long-term survival could look like in rare cases.
For Dane, going public with his diagnosis appears to be as much about transparency as it is about resilience. His willingness to continue engaging with both his craft and the public — even amid personal hardship — has only deepened the support he has received from his fans thus far.
