Eric Dane‘s family has sent a clear message to his mourning exes.
According to sources, the “Grey’s Anatomy” alum’s loved ones are not fans of the narratives circulating about his final moments.
Eric Dane passed away on February 19, 2026, following a public battle with ALS. There was an outpouring of love and support following his demise, including tributes from two of his former flames.
Eric Dane’s Family Reportedly Wants His Exes To Get Their Facts Straight
A source close to the family shed light on Rebecca Gayheart and her two daughters’ feelings following Dane’s passing. They claimed the trio “feel a deep responsibility to ensure that his story and memory remain accurate,” particularly about who was “present until the very last chapter of his life.”
The source claimed that Dane’s family, especially his daughters, want his exes to know that they deserve the space to mourn his passing. The family particularly did not want to be “confronted by narratives that simply don’t align with the truth they lived.”
Per TMZ, the source’s claims meant that Gayheart and her daughters appreciate the condolences from Dane’s exes. However, they did not want the exes’ perceived ambiguity or embellishment about their relationship with Dane.
Janell Shirtcliff Broke Her Silence About The Actor’s Passing
According to the outlet, Dane was single for a while after his ALS diagnosis and died surrounded by Rebecca and their two daughters. Although the source did not drop any names, two of Dane’s exes have broken their silence about his death.
Days after his passing on February 19, E! News reported that Janell Shirtcliff had addressed his passing. At the time of the report, she was referred to as Dane’s girlfriend, and she reflected on their time together in a series of Instagram Story posts.
The pictures Shirtcliff shared captured her fond memories with Dane, including a snap of him kissing her on the side of her head. There was a video of Dane and one of Shirtcliff’s kids, where the child could be heard directing Dane to take a picture.
Priya Jain Reportedly Reconnected With Her Ex Before His Passing
Shirtcliff and Dane seemingly confirmed their romance in June 2025, two months after the late actor announced his ALS diagnosis. They attended the Los Angeles premiere of Dane’s “Countdown” drama, walking hand-in-hand down the red carpet.
While the status of Dane’s relationship with Shirtcliff before his passing was ambiguous, his romance with Priya Jain had reportedly ended before his death. An insider told US Weekly that the exes had reconnected as friends in the months leading up to Dane’s death.
“It was more important for them to remain friends,” the insider claimed. As for how Jain was holding up after Dane’s passing, the insider alleged that she never expected him to go so soon. They added that she was “so sad and devastated” by the loss, but still had much love for Dane and his family.
The TV Personality’s Ex-Girlfriend Was Reportedly ‘Blindsided’ By Their Split
Jain echoed similar sentiments to those of the insider days earlier, when she was spotted at The Abbey, a popular West Hollywood bar. The Blast covered the story, reporting that she had not wrapped her head around Dane’s passing but found comfort in their memories.
She was also happy that Dane had two daughters to keep his legacy alive. Jain also showed her support for Dane’s family by donating $10,000 to the GoFundMe set up for his children. The donation came at the heels of claims of Jain’s shock over the way her relationship with Dane had ended.
Jain was allegedly “blindsided” by their split, which she discovered had happened when Dane appeared with Shirtcliff on his arms in June 2025. The year prior, Jain and Dane had been spotted together on multiple occasions, with a source noting they were exclusive.
Eric Dane Will Have A Public Memorial Thanks To The Outpouring Of Love
According to new reports, Dane’s family has been deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support from fans following the actor’s passing. A source close to Gayheart claimed the family would host a public memorial to recognize the public’s support.
The source noted the event was in the works and would be for the fans as well as to make Dane “smile and feel loved and know that his life was not in vain.” The news follows The Blast’s report that Dane was not recognized in the Oscars In Memoriam segment.
A source close to Gayheart claimed the family was “saddened” not to see him included in the main broadcast. Nonetheless, they understood that many deaths had rocked the industry and were happy that Dane was included on the Academy’s website for fallen stars.