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‘Beyond the Gates’ Star David Friebe Lami Explains Decision of Name Change to Its Origin ‘Lami’

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/LamiIG

David Friebe Lami who debuted on Beyond the Gates as Isaiah Hawthorne, the brother of Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges), back in 2025, is going into 2026 with a new perspective and change to his acting name and more.

The Beyond the Gates star took to his Instagram to explain why he is shortening his name to just Lami and its origins and significance in his life from growing up until now. Lami debuted on the CBS daytime drama in October of 2025 and has been a love interest for Eva Thomas played by Ambyr Michelle.

The actor started his post with, “I’m changing my name,” before launching into how he came to this decision. Lami is not only an actor/model, but as BTG viewers have seen on his social media account, a very talented musician and musical artist.

Photo: CBS

‘Goodbye David Lami Friebe. Now it’s Lami. Singular,” he explained. “The return to my roots. Lami is my birth name, given to me by my parents. It’s Liberian, named after a relative my father looked up to. I was Lami until about five years old when i woke up from a dream and asked my parents to call me David. They said “aight bet” (don’t quote me on that) and from that point David was my nickname. After we moved to California, throughout school I had a tough time fitting in, and the name “Lami” always stuck out like a pimple. I’d always rush over to ask a new teacher to change the name sheet before roll call, so that they didn’t call my legal name “Lami” out loud. I thought it was embarrassing to be different. So it was David for awhile. Those fears and insecurities stayed tucked in my pocket all the way up until high school.”

Taking us from high school till now, Lami, added, “Then I grew up. I gained a voice. Started putting myself out there. My senior year I released my first EP, and with that release I turned those pockets inside out. I chose myself, and embraced my authentic identity. I released under the stage name LAMI. But I was still David to those around me. Until I met Nia. She was the first person to ignore David and call me Lami until I started introducing myself as such. She was also the one who encouraged me to take acting classes, write scripts, shoot films. I gained a new level of confidence and skills, but I kept the name “David Lami Friebe” for all things film-related to separate that side of myself from my music, still under “LAMI”. That split in artistic personality survived until now.”

Speaking on the challenges of the often unforgiving world of the acting and music world, Lami added “This industry has a way of shaking up your world, throwing unexpected curveballs and f*cking up your plans, and I’ve learned that the best thing you can do to manage the volatility is to stay true to yourself, trust yourself, trust your work, and lean on your loved ones. Who I am is the same when I’m singing or acting, holding drumsticks or operating a camera. My art and expression comes from the same place. So there’s no need for two different stage names. There’s no need for six syllables. We can keep it blunt. Straight to the point. Lami.”

So, what do you think about what Lami had to share about his upbringing and experience which led him to now go by a singular name? Are you enjoying his performances on Beyond the Gates? Let us know via the comment section below.

 

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I can’t tell you the sleepless nights I have endured over this issue. Than k you Lami

That was thoroughly unnecessary snark, but you do you.

Gunta 1. Bougie yotch behind the keyboard… ZERO. Thank u Eva.

Soap rags post just about any type of article related to BTG or anyone associated with it just to help boost ratings.

Pardon me, do you know Dottie? You seem
To travel in the same circles.

Her last name certainly isn’t Angelou, Huh Maya?

I love that he made this decision for himself.

Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Nicole Plays the Field: Who Is Her Ultimate Love Match?

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Who would have thought that more uptight of the Beyond the Gates Dupree sisters, Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix), would be the one cavorting around with a few different suitors at one time and living it up!  Such as the case of the psychiatrist at Garland Memorial Medical Center.

In story, after her decades-long marriage went bust with Dr. Ted Richardson (thanks to the bombshell by Leslie that Ted and her had an affair the result of which was her having his daughter, Eva), Nicole divorced the renowned plastic surgeon and since that time has two men actively vying her attention, newcomer in town, Dr. Kial Robbins (Greg Vaughan) and Ted’s plastic surgeon partner, Dr. Carlton Fitzgerald (Michael Christopher Riley).

What’s refreshing for daytime is, this is a woman taking control of her personal life, and not making excuses that she is not being mutually-exclusive, She has even explained to both Kial and Carlton that after the stormy ending and the betrayal of her marriage to Ted (Keith D. Robinson), she’s not rushing into anything with any sort of short or long term commitment. So, everyone knows what they are getting themselves into.

For Nicole, let the fun begin and this week on all new episodes of Beyond the Gates come the Friday, May 8 episode while with Carlton, Nicole runs into Food Network Chef, Sunny Anderson who is also a regular contributor and official “Drew Crew” member on The Drew Barrymore Show. Meanwhile, Ted is thinking about another woman who Shanice thinks is Leslie, but doesn’t he just love Nicole and wants her back, try as he might to move on with anyone that isn’t her? Stay tuned.

This week, in the latest promo for Beyond the Gates, things are getting hot and heavy in the bedroom between Nicole and Carlton, while previous she had quite the time with Kial.

Check out the latest video teaser for episodes airing May 4-8 below.

So, who do you think will be the ultimate love match for Nicole? Will she wind up back with Ted, choose to be exclusive with Kial or Carlton, or will no one get Nicole, and she will just continue to be single and happy for the rest of her life? Let us know your picks via the comment section.

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CBS Daytime Preemption Schedule for UEFA Champions League Games: What This Means for ‘Beyond the Gates,’ B&B and Y&R

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Your favorite soaps operas on CBS, have a scheduling shift over the next few days for the network’s fifth annual broadcast for the UEFA Champions League Soccer games in Europe.

This will effect the Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29; and next week’s Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6 line-up of Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless.

First, and the most affected is all-new episodes of Beyond the Gates which will not air today or tomorrow. As well, game show Let’s Make a Deal will also be preempted. The two shows will also be fully preempted on May 5 and May 6.

Photo: UEFA

However, The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful will air as normal for East Coast viewers, but those on the West Coast in Mountain and Pacific Time Zones will have a full preemption. Only, the top-rated The Price is Right will air coast-to-coast with no interruptions because of its time slot of 11am ET/10am PT.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SCHEDULE

The UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, semi-final matches begin airing today on April 28 when  Paris Saint Germain PSG plays a home game in France and goes up against Bayern Munich, and on April 29, viewers can look for Atlético de Madrid plays at home vs. Arsenal FC.

Next week, on Tuesday, May 5, Arsenal FC plays at home in England vs. Atletico Madrid, while Bayern Munich faces Paris Saint-Germain, on Wednesday May 6, in Munich, Germany.

CBS will air a one-hour UEFA Champions League Today before each of the matches at 2pm ET as the matches begin each day of the tournament at 3pm ET.

BEYOND THE GATES PREVIEW

When Beyond the Gates returns this Thursday, April 3o it will be the pick-up of the Monday, April 27 cliffhanger which found the Dr. Lia Whitmore (Cecelia Specht) threatening Grayson (Jordi Vilasuso) and Ashley (Jen Jacob) and Dani (Karla Mosley) becoming even more suspicious of Hayley (Marquita Goings) and her plans for Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett).

Photo: CBS

In addition look for, Leslie (Tricia Mann-Grant) to be confronted by Anita (Tamara Tunie), while exes, Ted (Keith D. Robinson) and Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix) share a close moment witnessed by Shanice.

For those wanting to catch all episodes of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful if you are in the West Coast time zones and usually watch them during the day. you can catch the action via CBS.com, CBS app or Paramount+

As Beyond the Gates heats up with who’s behind and involved in the black market blood plasma snatching story, don’t forget to check out the Michael Fairman Channel’s recent interview with Cecelia Specht on all things Dr. Lia Whitmore below.

So, what do you think of the preemption schedule and how it may affect your viewing this week and next of Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless? Weigh-in via the comment section.

 

 

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Ashley Jones Joins the Cast of Beyond the Gates

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Ashley Jones is the newest addition of CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates.  The veteran soap actress has posted some teasey Instagran stories revealing the intel; especially her latest wearing a Beyond the Gates emblazoned robe while in her dressing room.

As to who Jones is playing that is still hush-hush. Ashley follows other former daytime notables to Fairmont Crest which have included Greg Vaughan (ex-DAYS, Y&R, GH) and Jordi Vilasuso (ex-Y&R, AMC, DAYS and GL).

A spokesperson for Beyond the Gates confirmed the news to Soap Opera Digest expressing, “We can confirm Ashley Jones will be appearing in Beyond the Gates.” It should be noted: Beyond the Gates does tape four months ahead of air.

Soap fans first met Ashley when she played Megan Dennison on The Young and the Restless (1997-2000). She then went on to The Bold and the Beautiful to play Bridget Forrester in her initial run from 2004-2010 and since then making recurring appearances throughout the next 15 years. In addition, Jones appeared on General Hospital in the role of Parker Forsyth from 2016-17.

Earlier this week, Beyond the Gates was renewed for two more consecutive seasons its 3 and 4th by CBS, giving the youngest soap on the air, a big confidence boost. The series debuted back on February 24, 2025 as the first hour-long Black-led soap opera, and which tapes in Atlanta, Georgia instead of Los Angeles, California.

Who do you think Ashley Jones will play on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts below.

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CBS unveils Beyond the Gates season 2 promo and Jordi Vilasuso joins the cast. Leave A Comment

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