The Epic Battle: Davis vs. Crawford
She might have supported women in general, but Davis’ relationship with Joan Crawford wasn’t anything close to supportive. The rivalry between the silver-screen icons is legendary. Their decades-long battle, involving both professional and personal resentments, was only fueled by an industry that, sadly, loved to see its women tear each other apart.
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford 1962. Photo by Snap / Shutterstock
Much of their back-and-forth bickering played out in the tabloids. For the record, Crawford was always less hostile than Davis, who could deliver a harsh “burn” against her rival: “Crawford slept with every male star at MGM—except Lassie.” Ouch. So what was it all about? And how did it even begin? Here’s a timeline of what really happened…