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
‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Franco LoPresti Opens Up About ‘Days of our Lives’ Debut as Dante Vitali
Next week on Monday, September 14 will mark the first appearance in Salem of Franco LoPresti in his new Days of our Lives role of Dante Vitali.
Heated Rivalry fans now LoPresti very well from his part as hockey player Cliff Marleau in the series first season. (No word yet if Cliff appears in season 2).
Now in a conversation with TV Insider, DAYS fans will learn that LoPresti is on the soap for a limited run. No timetable was given.
Photo: Corday Productions, Inc
When LoPresti does burst onto the scene come Monday, Dante makes quite the impact as Franco LoPresti explains. It seems that viewers will first see him in scenes in Monte Carlo at a poker table with none other than Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) and Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier). However, Dante will come to Salem to talk to the Brady family about his supposed fiancée Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney).
Franco shared, “Dante was born and grew up in Italy and educated at this pretty top-tier English boarding school. He then went on to build his own dynasty in finance, all the while trying to distance himself from the Vitali name (as viewers know Tamara Braun played his cousin Ava Vitali).”
“But at the core of Dante, there’s definitely an old-school quality to him”, continued LoPresti. “He’s super passionate, he’s sincere and incredibly generous, but he’s also someone that you probably shouldn’t underestimate. Loyalty is something that means a lot to him. As Dante enters Salem, I think the audience will get to slowly peel back those layers and discover what’s really driving him. So, I’m excited for Days fans to go on that ride with Dante.”
Photo: Almay
As it turns out, LoPresti taped his episodes of DAYS starting back in November 2025 which happened to be weeks before Heated Rivalry became a smash hit.
Franco recalled, “It’s so funny because I thought my episodes would air in a month (on Days of our Lives). But I found out it was nine to 10 months and I was like, ‘I gotta wait that long?!’ So, I’ve been biting my nails, trying not to think about it, and I think it’s actually kind of helped because now it’s here and it’s all coming at me from all different angles. I’m nervous. I’m excited, and I just can’t wait to see it all come together. It’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had for sure.”
In his personal life, Franco just had his first child with wife, actress Emily Alatalo, just a weeks ago on August 23rd when they welcomed their daughter, Stella into the world.
So, looking forward to seeing Franco LoPresti’s debut come Monday? What do you think about the fact that it’s being reported as a limited run? Do you think Dante and Sami have a chance on-screen or off-screen to be a happy couple? What do you really think brings Dante to Salem sans Sami? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
In a metaphor for the start of the school year and their upcoming anniversary in November, Days of our Lives revealed its “Class of Season 62,” with a very clever yearbook montage on their social media handles, welcoming new cast members, while paying respect to the veterans and “class”-iying the other characters in Salem.
The official Days of our Lives Instagram account shared on the posting, “The Class of Salem Season 62 has arrived. Familiar faces, new names and plenty of personality. Flip through our yearbook for a peek at this year’s class.”
Let’s take a look at how they broke it all down: The Salem Yearbook starts with saying “another unforgettable season,” with some group pics, and then we dovetail into Salem’s new class which features: Sydney Malakeh (Sydney DiMera), Brandon Butler (Mason Whitfield), Angelica Nero (Victoria Kiriakis), Cole Gersmeyer (Thomas DiMera) and Lorelei Olivia Mote (Rachel Black).
Photo: Days of our Lives
Next up, are the likes of: Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez), John-Paul Lavoisier (Philip Kiriakis), Tyler Joseph Andrews (Theo Carver) and LeeAnn Hopkins (Joy Wesley). Then, in the “Drama Club” section are: Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera) and AnnaLynne Cipriani (Cat Greene).
Following the ‘Recess” section with some group snaps, comes “Homeroom Highlights” with: Abigail Klein (Stephanie Johnson), Eric Martsolf (Brady Black), Rob Scott Wilson (Alex Kiriakis), Lamon Archey (Eli Grant) and Sal Stowers (Lani Price Grant).
The “Salem Spectator” section features: Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera), Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark), Stowers again, and Ashely Puzemis (Holly Jonas). In the “Afternoon Sweets” section look for: Paul Telfer (Xander Kiriakis) and Linsey Godfey (Sarah Horton), Emily O’ Brien (Gwen Rizchech), Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera/Susan Banks), Brandon Beemer (Shawn Brady), plus Jackée Harry (Paulina Price).
Towards the end of the yearbook, veteran performers such as: Mary Beth Evans (Kayla Johnson), Stephen Nichols (Steve Johnson), Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) and Josh Taylor (Roman Brady) are featured, plus Deidre Hall (Marlena Evans), James Reynolds (Abe Carver) and Matthew Ashford (Jack Deveraux), Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie Williams) and Suzanne Rogers (Maggie Kiraikis) with her on-screen daughter, Linsey Godfrey.
The Salem Yearbook comes to a conclusion noting “Big things happening in Salem” and to tune-in on Peacock, where we also find Jacob Martinez (Javi Hernandez), Maggie Carney (Rita Lesley), and a host of other favorites previewing what’s to come this fall.
So, what do you think of the Days of our Lives Class of Season 62? Looking forward to seeing what happens in Salem? Did you like the yearbook concept for promotional tune-in? Let us know via the comment section below.
View this post on Instagram
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives’ Head Writers Give Fall 2026 Preview: Marlena and Stefano’s Chess Mystery, The Arrivals of Dante and Sydney, Romance Drama for Sarah and Others
As summer comes to a close with Labor Day weekend, the former Days of our Lives co-head writing duo of Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford have given their annual fall season preview in episodes taped some 10-11 months ago.
As previously reported this past July, Ryan Quan returned to Days of our Lives and is now co-head writing the show with Ford, while Cwikly is now a consultant. The new co-head writing teams stories will not be seen till late spring/early summer 2027.
So for now, the stories pick up from where we left off with Cwikly and Ford promising via TV Insider, “Fall in Salem is full of twists and turns and secrets and surprises. Dots connect in unexpected ways as seemingly unrelated threads converge.”
Photo: JPI
CHECKMATE?
In one of the top mystery’s, Marlena is still having troubling memories and she will have another one on the Monday, September 7 episode. Meanwhile, her daughter Belle (Martha Madison) has gotten very close to Chad DiMera (Conner Floyd) and as pictured here, the two smooch while in Italy searching for answers to the chess set that Stefano DiMera gifted th the late John Black and Marlena (Deidre Hall) that has some significance.
The head scribes share, “The (chess board) mystery and its fallout are central to the fall stories. Chad and Belle follow the clues to a discovery that changes both of their families, and Salem, forever. Marlena worries that their investigation/the chess set may be a Pandora’s box that has been opened. And she is right…”
Newcomers are also the order of the day for Cwikly and Ford, this fall. We have already seen the debut as Brandon Butler as Mason Whitfield, and next week you can add as previously reported Sydney Malakeh on the Thursday September 1o episode as Sydney DiMera, followed by the the Monday, September 14 arrival of Franco LoPresti as Dante Vitali.
Photo: Corday Productions
Paula and Jeanne Marie expressed on the incoming Dante, “The arrival of a stranger who will set the whole town on its ear. The character has several strong ties to the current canvas and impacts many storylines.” What will Dante be up to? We know Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney) had mentioned in 2025 she got engaged to the man, but that was off-screen.
LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH OR THE ONE YOU WANT?
In the romance department, the triangle between Brady/Sarah/Xander heats up with a very conflicted Sarah (Linsey Godfrey). The head writers reveal, “When Sarah faces attacks personally and professionally, Xander (Paul Telfer) and Brady (Eric Martsolf) work together to help and protect her. Sarah’s new love for Brady is challenged by her lingering love for Xander. Xander risks everything for Sarah.”
In addition look for, “Gabi (Cherie Jimenez) and Philip (John-Paul Lavoiser) to draw closer as he tries to save the family company and home.”
Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) will also be returning at some point this fall and she won’t be alone. Who might she bring with her? And from the looks of the Peacock promo for next week’s DAYS, someone is wearing Stefano’s ring around their finger, but who … and how does it all tie in this fall?
So, what do you think about some of the highlights coming up this fall on Days of our Lives per the series head writers? Does anything float your boat or pique your interest? If so, what? Let us know via the comment section. But first, check out the action next week on DAYS in the promo entitled “Bag of Tricks” below.
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali Song ‘Pray’ Now Available on Major Streaming Platforms with Music Video Forthcoming
‘General Hospital’ Icon Genie Francis to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
Vivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
‘Beyond the Gates’ vs. ‘The Young and the Restless’ in a Soap Opera Showdown on ‘Flip Side’ Season 3 Premiere
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom Talks Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and What’s Behind Katie’s Deep-Seated Issues with Dylan (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Did Brook Lynn Deserve Chase Walking Out on Her?
-
General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
-
General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali Song ‘Pray’ Now Available on Major Streaming Platforms with Music Video Forthcoming
-
General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’ Icon Genie Francis to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
-
News7 days agoVivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
-
News1 day agoJess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
-
General Hospital6 days ago‘General Hospital’s’ Braedyn Bruner Reveals Her Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and How Emma is Getting Her ‘Edge’ Back
-
General Hospital5 days ago‘General Hospital’s’ Bluesy Burke Marks 1 Year as Charlotte Cassadine: ‘It’s The Best Gift I’ve Ever Received’
-
News4 days ago‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Drops First Look 40th Anniversary Opening Title Sequence
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.