For years, fans of Desperate Housewives have heard whispers of explosive rivalries behind the scenes. But according to Jesse Metcalfe, who played teenage gardener John Rowland, he never noticed a thing.

“There’s a lot of stories about all the drama on that set between some of our lead females,” Metcalfe said during a recent panel, per People. “I was oblivious to it, basically, because I was just so thrilled to be on a show and just so in the moment. I was just happy to have a job.”

Metcalfe, now 46, recalled struggling through an entire pilot season without booking a role before landing Desperate Housewives. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jesse Metcalfe (@realjessemetcalfe)

“I tested for Desperate Housewives, which was a recast, right at the end of that pilot season, and ended up booking it,” he explained. “That show really broke me, and I was just riding the wave.”

While Metcalfe may have missed the drama, the show was often defined by it off-camera. In 2010, Nicollette Sheridan filed a $20 million lawsuit against series creator Marc Cherry, accusing him of assault and wrongful termination after her character was written off. 

Cherry denied the allegations, and the case was dismissed in 2012 after a judge ruled there wasn’t sufficient evidence of wrongdoing.

Years later, during the fallout from Felicity Huffman’s involvement in the college admissions scandal, Eva Longoria submitted a letter to the court praising her co-star’s character. In it, she described enduring “pure torture” from an unnamed cast member, revealing that Huffman once stood up to the alleged bully on her behalf. Cherry also hinted at the same cast member in his own letter, calling the actress “impossible” to work with.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Desperate Housewives Clips (@desperatehousewivesclips)

The ABC dramedy, which ran for eight seasons from 2004 to 2012, remains beloved for its mix of mystery, comedy, and soap-style twists. But the constant chatter of on-set tension has cast a shadow over fans’ hopes for a reboot or spinoff.

“Everyone wants a return to Wisteria Lane,” one fan recently wrote on social media, “but knowing what went on behind the scenes makes it feel impossible.”

Despite that skepticism, Metcalfe hasn’t ruled out the possibility of revisiting the series one day. According to People, there has been talk of a revival project tentatively titled Wisteria Lane, though details remain scarce and with the baggage of past feuds, the future of the franchise is far from certain.

For Metcalfe, however, his memories remain untouched by the chaos. “I was just enjoying it,” he said. “That show gave me my big break, and that’s what I’ll always remember.”

Photo Credit: @realjessemetcalfe on Instagram.