Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Freddie Smith Opens Up About The Future of Sonny & Will's Romance!
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
When Freddie Smith was cast on Days of Our Lives as Sonny Kiriakis, he became the soap’s “official” first gay character in the show’s history! But after coming on to the daytime scene with much fanfare, Sonny’s story was put on pause, while Will Horton’s (Chandler Massey) coming out story became front and center. While taking a back seat to all the drama, but maintaining some airtime as Will’s steadfast friend, the show was carefully crafting a budding love story that needed some things to happen first, to set up obstacles, and for the audience to care. And now, like every great love story, this one is fraught with miscommunication, just-wrong bedmates and a dose of gay-bashing!
On-Air On-Soaps Michael Fairman caught up with Freddie Smith for a very special interview for Frontiers LA to talk about the Sonny/Will romance, a preview of what’s ahead in Salem, playing gay, how the LGBT community has embraced the young actor and his stance with Congress on bullying. Yes, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington! Here are a few excerpts from the interview below, but make sure to read the entire piece at FrontiersLA.com!
The big question: Is Sonny truly and deeply in love with Will?
FREDDIE: Yeah, he has definitely developed a crush over the past year. They are best friends and a lot of romance stems from friendship, but there are times when one person feels something and the other person doesn’t. It’s basically trial and error. If someone has enough “balls” to say, “Hey, I have feelings for you, and I hope it doesn’t ruin the friendship if you don’t have feelings,” that is a pretty big step.
In a turn of events that obviously will be a catalyst for the story for quite some time to come, is this little story beat where Will just slept with ex-girlfriend Gabi! Has Sonny figured this out yet?
FREDDIE: No, he doesn’t know! I would think it would be a major issue for him. He is very forgiving, but I don’t know how Sonny is going to react when he finds out that Will was with Gabi.
What did you think when you read that in the script? Many gay viewers are upset about this. We just had a gay guy come out and then he goes and sleeps with his ex-girlfriend? Doesn’t that scenario seem unauthentic to you?
Photo Credit: GLAAD/Getty Images
FREDDIE: I think it does. But for Sonny, he is comfortable with who he is and he has been out, where Will still has that part of him that is slightly struggling. He had the character of “T” come up to him who talked trash to him, he had Sonny come up to him and yell at him and he had his dad come up to him, who said he was disappointed in him. So I think he just went to be with his friend. I don’t think he had any intentions of sleeping with her. He was just so broken with everyone he cared about talking so badly to him. He was with a friend and it just sparked, and it just happened. I think he felt like, “I don’t want to disappoint people.” But in the end he disappointed himself. At the end of the day, people are just looking for love and to make a connection. Some people who are straight, they try the same-sex, and they could be bisexual. I think people put too many titles on it. Whoever you love, you love. So if you look at it that way, then it is authentic, because Will was just feeling a connection, and he just went with it.
Brant Daugherty (Pretty Little Liars) has done a guest arc as Brian, a potential love interest for Sonny. Do you think that Brian could be in the mix for Sonny’s affections?
FREDDIE: Basically Brian knew that Sonny’s heart was not in the right place and that Sonny cares about Will. He didn’t really want to overstep his bounds because he then knew he was not Sonny’s first choice. So Brian decided to be the bigger man. Sometimes you feel you need to say, “Hey, go ahead.” Actually, I don’t think Brian thinks it’s going to work out between Sonny and Will. So it’s like a maneuver he is playing right now, like, “Hey go for it. But you are going to come running back to me.” So whether Sonny goes to him, or Will, or someone else that is in the near future—we shall see!
The most graphic love scene between two men on daytime occurred on OLTL between the characters of Kyle (Brett Claywell) and Fish (Scott Evans) on a New Year’s Eve episode where they had the two guys “making love.” Would you like to see scenes where Sonny and Will are actually in bed together?
FREDDIE: Absolutely! I think it’s very important. If you are in a relationship, that is the romantic aspect of it. So I think it’s important to show every aspect of a relationship.
Sonny is such a goody-goody! Would you love him to get his hands dirty and do something bad?
FREDDIE: Sonny does have some fires going, and some mistakes he is going to be making, but he is going to develop. People are going to see more layers to Sonny. I can’t say much more than that!
So soapers, what do you think about Freddie’s comments on Will sleeping with Gabi, that he is on board for a love scene between Sonny and Will, and how their romance is playing out? Let us know!
Days of our Lives long-running cast member James Reynolds revealed on the November 10 edition of Entertainment Tonight that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and his character of Abe Carver will now be going through an on-screen Parkinson’s battle as well.
Speaking with ET’s Nischelle Turner, the 80-year-old actor and Daytime Emmy winner shared how he attempted to hide the warning signs dating back to 15-20 years ago when he would have, “What they call the hallucinations. My wife (Lissa) would say, ‘You were hitting me last night in bed,’ and I would say, ‘What?!’ I was having these really horrible dreams.” Reynolds also added that he realized falling out of bed was an early symptom of Parkinson’s too.
Discussing the on-going tremors that have become more noticeable over time especially in hands, James shared that when he finally told the Days of our Lives cast they were nothing but “extraordinarily helpful and supportive.”
Photo: ET
SCREEN LIFE TO MIRROR REAL LIFE
Now with DAYS about to launch into Abe’s Parkinson’s storyline, Reynolds hopes that he can turn his experience into something positive by encouraging others facing the disease to keep fighting. During the sit-down, Reynolds co-star Jackée Harry (Paulina Price) recalls her reaction to learning of Reynolds’ real-life diagnosis and how she has continued to search for new treatments to inform James about.
Although Parkinson’s disease currently has no cure, there are medications and treatments can help those manage symptoms and improve quality of life. The condition progresses at a different pace from individual to individual.
As discussed in his conversation with ET, Reynolds cited Michael J. Fox and Alan Alda as two high-profile celebrities who have brought awareness to the disease.
Photo: JPI
In story on DAYS, Abe in recent weeks had been experiencing tremors which led to seek help and a diagnosis Dr. Kayla Johnson (Mary Beth Evans). Soon Abe and others will find out of his battle with Parkinson’s. Although on the promo for this week’s DAYS, Abe is seen telling Kayla, that he will do something, “when the time is right.”
James Reynolds is one of the most prolific performers, being the longest-running Black Actor in a role on a television series, not to mention his aforementioned Lead Actor Daytime Emmy win in 2018, and being inducted in 2025 into the Daytime Emmy Gold and Silver Society of honorees.
You can check out James’ in-depth conversation on his Parkinson’s diagnosis below.
Share your thoughts for James after learning of his health battle, and what do you think of Days of our Lives incorporating the disease into Abe Carver’s Salem storyline? Let us know in the comment section.
Alice Halsey is making a return to her Daytime Emmy-nominated role of Rachel Black on Days of our Lives. In a twist, Halsey is actually filling-in for her successor, Lorelei Oliva Mote.
According to TV Insider, an offer went out to Halsey to make a short comeback for four episodes when Mote had a scheduling conflict. The episodes Halsey taped will not be seen until late in 2027, due to Days of our Lives ongoing production schedule which tapes almost a year ahead of dropping new episodes on Peacock.
Mote has been playing Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) and Brady Black’s (Eric Martsolf) daughter since March 2026. Halsey had stepped away from the role in which she played from April of 2025 to March of 2026, and earned a Daytime Emmy nomination along the way in the Outstanding Emerging Talent category at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards.
Photo: JPI
FROM ‘LITTLE HOUSE’ TO SALEM
Halsey is now starring in the central role of Laura Ingalls in the Little House on the Prairie reboot on Netflix, which premiered this past June and in which the second season wrapped last month in October.
On coming home to Salem, Halsey shared, “It was very exciting. My parents told me that I would be coming back for a few more episodes, and I was so happy. I was freaking out. I was like, ‘I get to go back to Days. I get to see everybody again.’ And I’m just really glad that I get to be here.”
Stepping into Rachel’s skin after months away from the role, Alice explained, “I came in, and I did my work, and it was just awesome. It was fun, and it reminded me so much of back when I was Rachel before, and it made me even more grateful to be able to be Rachel again.”
She added “Rachel has matured a little bit more than when I was there, and it’s really fun to be able to play that up. She is older now, and so, of course, Rachel has changed, but my portrayal of her is essentially the same. She’s still the little girl that she used to be.”
Now below, you can check out Michael Fairman TV’s chat with Alice on the red carpet at the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards via the Michael Fairman Channel, where she furthered discussed being a part of the reboot of the iconic series, Little House on the Prairie, plus loving her Days of our Lives family.
So, what do you think about Alice filling-in for Lorelei Olivia Mote on DAYS? Have you watched her on Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie? Let us knoq via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives’ Celebrates 61st Anniversary: EP Ken Corday Teases New Character’s Arrival in Spring 2027
Today, November 8, marks the iconic Days of our Lives 61st anniversary having first burst on to the soap scene back on this date in 1965 on NBC. For 57 years the soap opera was a part of the NBC daytime programming block, and then in September of 2022 it debuted on the NBCUniversal streamer, Peacock as the first broadcast television daytime drama to move onto a streaming platform.
Now, here we are in DAYS sixth decade, and it’s found a way to survive with their unconventional taping schedule of shooting almost a year ahead of dropping new episodes on the platform, and Salem is still kicking as of this moment.
The anniversary week of episodes which begin tomorrow on Monday, November 9 through Friday November 13 will feature: the returns of Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley as Tony and Anna DiMera, more on the arrival of the newest DiMera, Dominik Marino as played by Kyle Pryor, Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) in dire straits, and whatever secret long-running character, Abe Carver (Daytime Emmy winner, James Reynolds) is keeping.
Photo: Corday Productions
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ON SALEM CANVAS LOOK IN THE MONTHS AHEAD
Days of our Lives executive producer, Ken Corday, who took over the reins of the soap from his parents, the late Ted and Betty Corday, fully in 1986, previewed what’s ahead as Salem turns 61 with Soaps.com and talked about the foundation of the shows legacy characters and families. Previously, the series was renewed for its 62nd and 63rd season.
Most intriguing is Corday revealed there is a brand new female character coming to the show in the Spring of 2027. Ken explained what lies ahead, “There are some new, young loves, rekindled romances and complicated triangles. I’m particularly excited about a brand-new character who brings some levity to the canvas and gets herself involved with almost everyone in Salem. She’ll debut in the spring. Stay tuned!”
Corday also added, “We are having fun exploring the dynamics between the Kiriakis and DiMera families, much like the Montagues and the Capulets. Each of our core families – the Hortons, Bradys, Carvers and Hernandezes – will be important in upcoming stories and will intertwine.”
NEWCOMERS AND FAMILIAR FACES
Pictured in the celebratory cast photo which was shared with the outlet were: DAYS newcomers Sofia Mattsson (Chloe Lane, and ex-Sasha Gilmore, GH), Brytni Sarpy (whose DAYS role is yet be revealed, ex-Elena, Y&R and Valerie, GH) and the return of Bryan Dattilo (Lucas Horton).
You can check out this action in Salem and DAYS anniversary week promo below.
Then, share your congratulations today for Days of our Lives as they celebrate their 61st anniversary via the comment section below. Let us know your thoughts on who could be playing the brand-new female character Ken Corday is speaking of? We previously reported that it looked like Brytni Sarpy would not be hitting the screens till early Summer.
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Love Love Freddie ! I can’t wait to see Sonny & Will romance! 🙂
I’ve been very disappointed with how slow this story is being told. I honestly don’t expect seeing it amount to much, in spite of all the hype the show’s given it. Days plays it way too safe. What a shame.
I am actually happy witht he slow pace. When Days brings in insta-love storylines, like teasing EJami recently or having Sami immediately reunite with Lucas, it never works out. But now, how Sami is slowly moving back to Rafe’s orbit, reminds me of how Maggie got with Victor: the best couples get together slowly, and through a strong friendship. I think that, while WilSon will certainly have obstacles, their slow build and start as friends will mean they end up together.
Love Sonny & Will!! Chandler and Freddie play off each other so well and they are so adorable. I want to see more of them. I was really angry that DAYS had Will sleep with Gabi again. First of all, she’s a horrible character and I never know what she’s going to do with this (get pregnant?? hope not!) but for Will to be gay and then have sex with her just was wrong for Days to go that route. I would have rather seen Will go have sex with another guy … maybe even Brian? At least it would be more true to the character they are now trying to represent. Now, THAT would be a thorn in Sonny’s side and as long as there is drama, there is storyline for these two!
Sorry but I don’t think the gay romance should be shown just talked about.
A lot of old fashioned people watch Days including me.
Then go watch something else that has your close-minded views. I’m sure you don’t mind watching adulturous straight couples on Days. Of course not…people like you only get self-righteously moralistic when it comes to gay people.
I am entitled to my opinion and you are entitled to yours.
I think if Days wants to be realistic and catch up with the other soaps, it must go with such a storyline. Days is doing a great job, and you can’t say that this is being “shoved down your throat” because it is going slowly. Still, I don’t undesrtand how it is fine to watch EJami, when EJ raped Sami, but then say that WilSon is unacceptable, though they have done nothing near the level of sin other characters have. Some “values” are hypocritical and sinful in themselves.
cathy trinque: “Since Obama okayed gay marriage” ?? Are you really that stupid? This country has had problems long before Barack Obama so much as thought of running for public office anywhere. And it’s not the gay community who contributed to the overwhelming teen pregnancy epidemic we have had in recent years. They’re not the ones at the center of the abortion debate. And NO ONE is shoving anything down your throat – you can dislike anything you want but that doens’t make bigotry okay and never will. And this comes from a middle-aged (56) straight female . It seems kind of funny that you don’t object to EJ raping Sami but this bothers you so much. Go home, idiot – your village i calling.
You, like every other bigot, most certainly are entitled to your opinion. And the rest of us are entiteld to tell you to keep that prejucied drivelto yourself. The other posters here are right. Will and Sonny have been brought along slowly – truly a love story. The straight couples resemble a bunny farm; the feet of the straight characters barely touches the floor before they’re in the next person’s bed. As much as I liked the pairing of Daniel and Chelsea 4 years ago, there hasn’t been a couple written the way Will and Sonny are being written since Steve and Kayla in the1980s. They had their song – “If Your Heart Comes Out Tonight” that was written just for them as a DOOL couple. Will and Sonny have the strumming guitar with a melody that is perfect for them. Chandler seems like a very personable young man and I happen to live about 20 miles from where Freddie grew up and I’m absolutely delighted to see a “home town” kid make good. Very proud of the whole thing.
I don’t mind being called a bigot. I am sick of gay relationships being crammed down my throat. Since Obama okayed gay marriage this country has deteriorated to almost a laughable state.
God made man and woman not man and man or woman and woman.
Archie Bunker was one of my favorite characters.
And yes I can dislike anything I want and I can say it too. I can have my opinion.
Thank you.
cathy trinque: God also said “Revenge is mine sayeth the Lord. Judge not lest ye be judged.” The 10 commands also say not to swear, not to worship any other god, not to miss Sunday service, not committ adultery, etc. Yet people do all of those things all the time and I notice you have no objection to those. If you are going to thump your Bible, thump it for everything or not at all. Being straight isn’t your “ffree pass” into heaven. Even if God judges that wrong, it doesn’t mean you won’t be standing in the fire right next to a gay person for something else you did. I notice you didn’t have anything to say about not minding EJ raping Sami. And, yes, you can have your opinion – and the rest of us who don’t judge are free to tell you to shut up and keep your BS to yourself.
IMO watching gay couples is distasteful. I don’t care if they are gay that is their business. I HAVE A RIGHT TO MY OPINION.
So get a life and go off and bully someone else.
“The rest of us that don’t judge” are judging me because I don’t like seeing a gay storyline. I don’t like a lot of storylines and I just walk away. And if I am asked I will say that I don’t like them either. I don’t even remember when EJ raped Sami. Knowing Sami she probably raped him.
This question was about this storyline and not about anything else.
You don’t remember EJ raping Sami? How convenient.
As for the rest of your comment, I HAVE a life – a very good one . And no one is judging you – you are simply being told to stop judging someone else. And, like every other despicable bigot, you are trying to turn it around and make yourself the one being “picked on.” Nice try, but – NOT. And calling me a bully – nice try but again – NOT!! Sticking up for someone who is different and refusing to back down from that does not make someone a bully – it makes them an advocate, a kindred spirit, a helping hand, etc. Believing in the Bible is a good thing – using it as shield to hide your hatred and bigotry is not – and that IS what you are doing. In was God-fearing young men who beat Matthew Shepherd to a pulp and left him tied to a fence at night until he was found dead. It was God-fearing young men who raped Brandon Tina. Or do you think it’s okay – just because they were gay and not like you? God also said no sex before marriage yet I dont’ see you getting all upset over the heterosexual bunny-hopping from bed to bed that has been going on not only on DOOL but every soap – for that matter, everywhere on TV – for years. The 10 commandments also say no adultery yet you aren’t complaining about Rafe sleeping with Carrie, among others. Anyone could keep going for years trying to make a full list of who all did what, why, and with who. God said no adultery, too, but you don’t seem too upset about Daniel/Jennifer/Jack.
And you want to know the really funny part? I’m not gay myself – I’m as straight as the proverbial arrow. I’m also not a spring chicken – I’m 56 years old.
And, yes, you do have the right to your opinion and to express your opinion. But there are those of us who, despite what we believe, GET that the rest of the world does not have to be the same as us in order to mean something, to have valure, to matter and we have the right to have the opinion that you are full of it. We have the right to express the opinion of “keep your BS to yourself.” I live about 20 miles from where Freddie Smith is from and I am absolutely delighted to see this young man doing so well. Both he and Chandler should be very proud. Don’t bother replying – I won’t even bother opening the notice that will show up in my e-mal.
At the pace they’re going with this storyline, Days will be cancelled before anything happens between Will & Sonny.
Love Sonny and Will! Hope we get to see more action between them, and some sex scenes!
I wonder if people would love this idea if were an interracial pairing between two guys? I’m guessing it wouldn’t go over to well, racism exist in every community. We live in a very a hypocritical society.
It has happened before on other shows. I think it would be an interesting storyline. However, the only people of color on Days are Rafe, Gabi, Abe, Cam and Theo. Unless Theo turns out gay, I don’t think we’ll see this happening, unless a new character of color comes to the show.
Love Freddie. He does such great interviews. Love Sonny and Will also and so happy they have finally become a couple. I really hope they get a romance equal to any heterosexual couple. After all of the flashbacks of Will having sex with Gabi it’s only equal to give Will and Sonny scenes that are just as comparable if not more revealing since Will isn’t in love with Gabi and is at least falling in love with Sonny.
I will never understand the upset when it comes to gay couples and storylines. The denizens of any soap city have rap sheets so long and for some truly heinous crimes and actions. A man loving a man and a woman loving a woman is offensive? Really?
The Will-Sonny storyline is what got me to focus on DAYS when AMC and OLTL shuttered. I have enjoyed it very much.
I would enjoy seeing some adults/middleagers who are gay involved in plots too.
I miss the Bianca/Marissa storyline in AMC. It’s too bad it ended. I agree, though, WilSon has really played a big part in my viewership of Days.
Loving the pace of the Sonny/Will love storyline. I think it’s perfect. Plus, I love Freddie. He’s just a sweetheart and a real man in my eyes!!!
I completely agree. The pace is perfect. I like that they began as friends. It isn’t something you see very often on soaps.
Call me bigot or whatever but I live by the laws of nature and laws of the judicial system. I consider breaking them distasteful. I do not condone illegal activity towards others either. And when someone asks my opinion I WILL COMMENT IF I SO WISH.
I live as I was raised by hard working people to try to follow the right path and to make my own choices.
Sounds like this blog is something personal so maybe it should be shut down.
The laws of nature are descriptive and descriptive only. The laws of man, on the other hand, are prescriptive and legislated by men. Do not say that in thumbing down gay sex you are condemning something thaht goes against natural law. We cannot speak of “breaking” a natural law. All that happens in nature is natural, including gay sex. If there is an exception to the law, then that law never was a law to begin with.