Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Chandler Massey on Will and EJ's Double Blackmail & playing a darker coming out story!

Photo Credit: Adam Campbell
In a brand new interview out today from On-Air On-Soaps Michael Fairman with Days of our Lives star, Chandler Massey (Will Horton) exclusively for Frontiersla.com, Chandler discusses Will’s internal struggle to come to terms with sexuality and all the dark twists and turns in Will’s coming out story. Plus, the actor chats on the importance of telling Will’s story to represent the LGBT community who are so under-represented at this point in time in the daytime soap genre.
And this week on DAYS, Will’s story kicks into high gear when he admits to Marlena that he saw EJ and Sami having sex! Then later in the week, things take another drastic turn when Will tries to blackmail EJ DiMera (played by James Scott), so he can get out of town, only EJ has his own plans for Will!
Here are a few interesting excerpts below from the interview!
Chandler on Will and EJ’s sudden double blackmail: “Will’s emotions and his disgust with his mom comes to a boiling point. His grandmother, Marlena, is there to try and diffuse that bomb, but she can only do so much. Will has all these different emotions going on inside him. So he goes to EJ because now he has dirt on him, and also Will wants to make him pay in his own way. And yes, Will could have gone to a different member of his family, but I think this is where he wants to make EJ suffer and really punish him for doing that. Will is hurt most by the fact that his mother betrayed his family, but also she wasn’t doing it by herself, you know what I’m saying? He tries to go to EJ and blackmails him for money to leave town. He wants to get away from his mom. He does not want to come to terms that he is gay yet, and of course, you can’t blackmail a DiMera, especially EJ, because they are going to turn the table on you immediately! And that is what happens. Will is in an emotional state and is not thinking very logically. EJ turns the table and then it turns into a very interesting relationship between the two of them! (Laughs) He now has Will under his thumb for sure, and he will be using that to make Will help him with his political campaign and aspirations to be the mayor of Salem.”
Chandler on DAYS approach to a darker coming out story: “They really want to tell a story that is unique and different from all the other stereotypical stories. I think they realize now is the time to take a risk and do a story like this where it’s not all PG, and not all happy, and everyone is loving and accepting. I think that is what makes this story so great; it’s twisted and dark and has so many facets to it. Another thing I like is they are not making Will the misunderstood goody-goody. He has some edge. He is going into a gray area instead of being such a clean character. I think that’s good too, because most of the storylines I have watched or read about involving a gay character, they seem to be afraid or hesitant to make the character bad. The lines are blurred here.”
Chandler on Will lashing out after Gabi breaks up with him and that kitchen scene! “This is another reason I love how they are writing the story. I just don’t have to play, “Oh man. I’m gay, but I want to hide it.” There are different ways it comes out, for instance, when Gabi broke up with him it came to the surface because Will wanted to keep Gabi and keep her as his safety net, and his pillar of support, and he wanted so bad to be with her and move in with her, and for her to be his beard! But when she broke up with him I was able to play losing his support system. That is much more specific, and that comes across, than just playing the angst that comes from not coming to terms with your own sexuality. And another thing; Will is funneling his denial into other things—like lashing out at his mom and trashing the kitchen.”
Chandler if Will and Sonny have a romantic future ahead of them: “I think anything is a possibility on a soap opera, but the feeling I get currently is that it is just a platonic relationship where ‘I am there for you.’ I don’t want to say “yes” to them as a couple and feed into that stereotype—that just because two guys are gay, and are the only gay guys on screen, that they are going to be together because that might not be it. Will has to do some soul-searching and really find peace within himself before he is ready to find love with someone else. He has to love himself before he can find someone to love him.”
Make sure to read the entire feature by clicking here! And then let us know, what do you think about Will’s storyline? Are you digging Chandler’s performance as much as we are?
Breaking News
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Presenters Announced

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) revealed on Thursday, the lineup of presenters for 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards taking place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.
The ceremony will stream live on the NATAS YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@theemmys and watch.TheEmmys.tv.
Scheduled to present from the current soaps are: Katelyn MacMullen (Willow, General Hospital), Delon de Metz (Zende, The Bold and the Beautiful), James Preston (Nick, The Bay), Paul Telfer (Xander, Days of our Lives), Tamara Tunie (Anita, Beyond the Gates) and Susan Walters (Diane, The Young and the Restless).

Photo: NATAS
In addition soap alums, Crystal Chappell, Lesli Kay, Joe Lando, Eva LaRue, who is also a nominee this year, A Martinez, Juliet Mills, and Alicia Leigh Willis, will also be on hand to present.
The ceremony which celebrates nominated lifestyle programs and dramas will also include presenters: Eva zu Beck (Superskilled with Eva zu Beck), Danielle Chang (Lucky Chow), Sunny Hostin (The View), Derek Hough (Extra), Pati Jinich (Pati’s Mexican Table), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Michael Jr. (Stand Up and Do Something), Judge Greg Mathis (Mathis Court with Judge Mathis), Keke Palmer (Glam Through the Ages), Nischelle Turner (Entertainment Tonight), and Andrew Zimmern (Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen).
The 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards will bring together an exciting mix of presenters representing the full spectrum of daytime television,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO of NATAS. “From familiar faces in daytime drama to the personalities and creative voices behind talk shows and lifestyle programming, this year’s lineup reflects the breadth of talent that makes daytime so special. We look forward to celebrating the people who continue to shape the genre.”
Matthew Hoffman (Love Island USA, Cheap A$$ Beach Houses) will serve as the ceremony’s Voice of God, bringing his signature comedic narration to the evening’s celebrations. As previously announced, Lifetime Achievement honoree Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital) will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by her husband, Jonathan Frakes.
So, what do you think about the list of presenters for the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know who you are looking forward to seeing via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives’ Reveals Kyle Pryor Cast as Dominic Marino

For months now, Days of our Lives has teased the character of Dominic Marino. In recent weeks, viewers learned that Marino is on the down low working with Sami Brady’s (Alison Sweeney) apparent fiancé ‘Dante Vitali (Franco LoPresti), and that he is the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall)!
Up until now, the Peacock streaming soap opera has never revealed his face, but that all seemed to change on the Tuesday, October 2o episode of DAYS. In story, Dante met Sami’s parents for the first time, Roman (Josh Taylor) and Marlena.
He shows them a photo of Dominic, which he happened to have on his own phone and even commented he kind of looked like he could be Marlena’s son. The photo, which has quickly made it around Soap Twitter/X, revealed that British-born actor Kyle Pryor is the man in the photo and eagle-eyed viewers actually located said photo on Pryor’s Instagram.

Photo: Peacock
Deadline revealed Pryor started taping at the end of 2025 and will first be seen in the role, on air Monday, November 2. In addition, Days will celebrate its 61st Anniversary with two special episodes featuring Dominic’s arrival, as well the returns of Tony and Anna DiMera, played respectively by Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley, on Friday, November 6 and Monday, November 9.
Those in the know, are are that Pryor previously held series regular roles on Australia’s Home and Away, and the UK’s Hollyoaks and guest starred on Emmerdale. In an ironic twist, Pryor appeared in the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand which is the same action series his apparent TV brother, Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera), once appeared in before coming to DAYS.
So excited to see Kyle Pryor take on the role of Dominic Marino as Days of our Lives sets its anniversary story to kick-off with is arrival in Salem? Share your thoughts in the comment section. And in case you missed our latest conversation with Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera) he weighs-in on how Dominic’s appearance will shake things up in Salem. You can check that out below.
Days Of Our Lives
Days of our Lives’ Conner Floyd Talks Dominic Marino Mystery, Chad and Belle, and Susan Seaforth Hayes (Exclusive)

Fasten your seat belts Days of our Lives fans, as the mystery of Dominic Marino continues to unravel on all-new episodes of the Peacock streaming soap opera. Last week, Chad DiMera (Conner Floyd) learned that he may have a half-brother, who may be the biological child of his father, the late Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), giving him great pause, because he knows Stefano had kidnapped Marlena for four years back in the late 80s and early 90s.
Chad has already been hunting down clues with his current girlfriend Belle Black (Martha Madison) in Italy and Salem, which revealed a photo of a young boy with Stefano with the date 1992 on the back of it, hidden inside Stefano’s chess set. So, what’s next?
Conner Floyd chatted on the Michael Fairman Channel in a new virtual interview released on Sunday, October 18, where he spoke on what the new addition to the DiMera family could do to the already dangerous sibling rivalries, the state of Chad’s relationship with Belle and much more.

Photo: JPI
DIMERA RIVALRY
After finding out from EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) that Dominic Marino could be the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano and Marlena, Conner Floyd explained, “I think it blows Chad’s mind a little bit. I think there’s a lot of things working there with old Chad. Obviously, bringing in another DiMera could cause some noise and the whole situation with Marlena’s a little awkward as well because he’s dating Belle, so this could cause a little tiff there. I think his head’s spinning and he does not know what to expect, but I also think he kind of expects that from Stefano, for sure.”
As to how this will change and color Chad’s relationship with EJ, Floyd responded, “Chad knows EJ’s not happy about it and I think he’s going to be real upset if this gets in his way of doing what he wants to do with the DiMera legacy and all that. However, for Chad, I think he’s just going to keep a sharp eye, see what this guy’s about, see if he’s here to cause some trouble or here to be a friend and kinda play it by ear.”

Photo: JPI
BELLE OF MY HEART
With Chad and Belle already being sleuths, Floyd says, you can look for the duo to continue getting to the truth. “I think Chad and Belle are committed to this. They’re going full National Treasure, Nicolas Cage,” says Conner. “They’re going to follow the clues. They’re going to get some answers.”
Since beginning in the role of Chad in June of 2025 and debuting on-screen back in April of 2026, the former Y&R star (where he played Chance Chancellor), says it was Madison who helped him get comfortable in his new surroundings.
“Martha is phenomenal. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to get tagged up with when I started here, just because she knows everybody,” shares Floyd. “She knows where to go, who to talk to. She’ll get the tea if you want, and so it was kind of cool. Martha took me under her wing, showed me the ropes. She’s a sweetheart. I love working with her too. She’s a great actress.”
But, is Chad in love with Belle after such a tortured past with his beloved Abigail Deveraux DiMera? Floyd thinks so! “I think he’s into it. They’re such good friends and they have such a rich history. I think he’s in for the ride. You know, it’s one of those things you probably overlook at first and then they reconnected, and it feels easy and they’re going on these fun adventures.”
MAKING CHAD HIS OWN
Conner had the arduous task of being the successor to Billy Flynn in the role of Chad.. Flynn had played the part for 12 years before deciding to exit and head to Y&R. So, how did Conner approach learning the ins and out of Chad? Floyd shared, “I really dove into Chad when I first got this job. I liked that he kind of walks this tightrope of DiMera and not DiMera, you know. He want to so honor his family roots and really do something for the DiMera family, but he doesn’t want to fall into that trap that all the other DiMera have found themselves in. Chad is a DiMera at heart. He’s got those demons, but he’s just trying to keep them contained.”

Photo: JPI
ICONIC
When Floyd got to DAYS, it was none other than Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie Williams) who most surprised him in the most delightful way, given that he knew Hayes was a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and the current longest-running cast member on the canvas.
“I love working with Susan Hayes! I love her. She’s a sweetheart. Susan is one of the nicest people there. I just thought she was cool and it’s Susan Hayes, you know? We’ve had a lot of scenes together, which is nice,” explained Conner.
“We’ll go to her dressing room, we’ll run our scenes, and then we’ll spend about an hour just talking about life and she’ll tell me about a book she’s reading. She’s such a history buff, which blows my mind. She’ll start dropping all these historical facts on me. I learn something new by the time I walk out of her dressing room every time!”
Now below, check out the full conversation with Conner Floyd via the Michael Fairman Channel.
Weigh-in: Do you like Chad and Belle as couple? Do you think Chad will get to the bottom of the Dominic Marino mystery? If so, do you think Dominic is truly Stefano and Marlena’s son … and what about Rita (Maggie Carney) in all this? Let us know your theories in the comment section.
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I am beyond excited for this storyline. I think Chandler is handling this challenging material with such a great sense of responsibility and attitude. I love the directions this coming out storyline is taking; that it isn’t “just” about him being gay, but rather, about the struggle of coming to terms with it. It makes for a complete, well rounded, well layered story. This is exactly what DAYS needs right now!
Chandler Massey is a good actor. But I am not interested in a gay Will Horton story (or any other gay story). Plan to skip over scenes as deemed necessary. Looking forward to watching other storylines on the show.
Producers and writers cannot force people to watch what they don’t want to watch on television (or in movies)!
Funny Gmbenet…that’s how I feel about straight love stories. Maybe soaps should just give up on any love stories all together. That way the homophobes and non-homophobes will have nothing to complain about.And while we are cutting any kind of reality out of soaps why don’t we take rape, unwed sex, teenage sex, any form of crime, extramarital affairs, evil twins, cousins having sex, brothers and sisters accidentally having sex, switched at birth babies, priest having sex, true love, love at first sight, Blacks, Latinos, Asians (except for servant roles of course)…or just any “unethical” stories that one or two audience members find “icky.”
On the other hand…I’m OK with you forwarding over the gay stuff…the soaps would be so boring without all of the above stories (reality or non-reality based) including the gay stories.
Like I said, no one can force anyone to watch what they do not want to watch on television. Fortunately there are plenty of television networks, as well as services such as Direct TV, Dish as well as cable companies to give people a nice variety from which to choose regarding television viewing. There are also DVDs and blu-ray discs of television shows and movies. So if a person doesn’t like what is playing on television, they can pop in a DVD or blu-ray disc (even VHS if you have the equipment). So people don’t have to watch what they don’t want to watch.
And if all else fails, they can turn off the television altogether. I am sure television advertisers would love that!
Adam, as far as you “being okay” about me forwarding over television content I deem objectionable, I don’t remember consulting you on that. What makes you think your opinion about my television viewing habits would matter to me one way or the other?
Great interview. Chandler is certainly one of the best actors on Days currently. Can’t wait for his parents to get involved in his coming out story. Sucks that EJ has to be part of it… He’s such scum and sucks the life out of everything he’s involved in.
I have really been impressed with Chandler’s acting. Not happy with Will being gay as I thought Will and Gabi made a nice couple, but at least Days is making the ‘coming out’ story interesting.
I love Will,his charecter has been on Days all his life,I will be soooooo
happy when Lucas and Sami get involved in his SL too.
I wish EJ would go away for about 5 years :((
Ej is maybe one of the best thing that happened on Days these last years..well when they write him as a grey character, not a one-note cartoon villian..Lucas is alright most of the time, he can be funny intentionally or unintentionally..lol but he stays above all a weak character, supporting character who whines a lot and abuse of self-righteouness, the actor is alright but never great, Sweeney outshines him in every of their scenes..i prefer more complex characters..to each his own of course.
that is your opinion,and I have my op,and stop emeiling me at home,I dont care what you think @@
I am sick to death of EJ myself. Am I the only person alive that knows he shot JOHN? Did I miss that fallout on the show or what? And this Rafe & his double thing-EJ & Stefano just completely got away with that? Seriously. And what about poor Fay? Nicole got over that in a hurry. I remember when EJ first came on-he was a race car driver, wasn’t he & then he dated Kate? Anyway, he has taken over the show & they need to balance things out & back burner him for a while.
I am sick of EJ too,he has to be in every story ,,,, not
I’ll be so happy when Lucas is back,and the writer better give he a GREAT story,for his fans miss him and he should have NEVER lift IMO
i love this story i’d bet my money on ej and will pairing as a gay couple
EJ and Will pairing,how sick is this 🙁
IF we have to have Will gay,make it with Sonny.
if it is not ej what about chad for will as a gay couple
since will is gay out and proud what about will and ej pairing they are so much alike in many ways they can both take it to new lows and heights and will can have some fun with sami to the hilt and to provoking her in many ways in every way possible