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!
Monday on Entertainment Tonight, the second set of nominations for the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced which included the highly-coveted Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series – Actress and Outstanding Daytime Talk Series.
ET followed suit after Extra announced the nominees, as previously reported, in the Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series – Actor and Outstanding Daytime Talk Host.
Now, five leading ladies of the soaps are vying for the gold for Lead Actress and the category marked the first-ever nominations for CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates when two actresses made the final cut. Only General Hospital is not represented among the actresses this year after Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) took home the trophy last year.
Photo: NATAS
THE FIVE LEADING LADIES OF THE SOAPS ARE …
The 2026 Lead Actress nominees are: Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera), Days of Our Lives, Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree), Beyond the Gates, Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers), The Young and the Restless, Heather Tom (Katie Logan), The Bold and the Beautiful, and Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree), Beyond the Gates.
This marks the first Daytime Emmy nominations for Karla Mosley and Tamara Tunie. In addition, this marks the first-time in her career that Stacy Haiduk had received a Lead Actress nod after two Supporting Actress nominations.
Meanwhile, Michelle Stafford had previously won 3 Emmys – 2 for Lead Actress and 1 for Supporting, but this recognition makes it her 11th overall nomination.
Heather Tom currently is tied for the most all-time Daytime Emmy wins with One Life to Live alum and General Hospital guest star, Erika Slezak. The B&B star has 19 nominations throughout her career.
Photo: ABC
DAYTIME TALK SERIES
In the Outstanding Daytime Talk Series category, the nominees are: 3rd Hour of Today, The Drew Barrymore Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Live with Kelly and Mark, Today with Jenna and Friends and The View.
“We’re proud to honor the extraordinary talent and creative teams whose work continues to define and elevate daytime television,” NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp said in a statement on the nominations. “As the Daytime landscape evolves and new forms of storytelling emerge, we remain committed to recognizing the innovation happening across the industry.”
The rest of the nominations will be revealed tomorrow on Tuesday July 14 starting on The View and then the full list of nominees in both the main and creative arts will be released by NATAS. The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards are slated for October 30th in Hollywood, California.
So, what do you think about the women who are vying for the Lead Actress Daytime Emmy? Happy with who got in? Who do you feel got snubbed? What do you think of the nominees for Daytime Talk Series? Weigh-in via the comment section.
It’s Daytime Emmy nomination week, and as previously reported things kick-off on Monday, July 13 when Entertainment Tonight (7pm ET) will announce the nominees for Lead Actress category and Daytime Talk Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. In addition on Monday, Extra (7pm ET) will reveal the nominees for Lead Actor and Daytime Talk Host.
On Tuesday, The View (11am ET) starts things off with their announcement of Daytime Drama, Entertainment News program and Outstanding Daytime Personality-Daily. That is followed by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) full reveal of all the categories beginning at 12noon ET/9am PT on their website and their official social handles on X and Instagram.
Then, Tuesday night at 8pm ET/5pm PT join Michael Fairman as he hosts his 12th annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Special 2026 live on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel where he will chat with some of the just announced nominees as we celebrate the hard work of the men and women in front of the camera who will be going for gold.
WHEN ARE THE DAYTIME EMMYS?
This year, the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be handed out on October 30 in ceremonies in Hollywood, California (Venue yet to be revealed). At that time, as like last year, both the major categories and creative arts will be presented. There is no word yet on a broadcast partner for the annual celebration of daytime programming, or if it will soley be streamed on NATAS’ watch.theemmys.tv and various apps and platforms.
WHO WILL BE APPEARING ON THE DAYTIME EMMY NOMINATIONS SPECIAL 2026?
Throughout Tuesday, keep an eye on Michael Fairman TV’s social media handles on X, Facebook and Instagram, for updates of who will be expected to appear on our live show.
If you have a question or comment for one of the nominees, or on the nominations, we can encourage you to join us in the live chat on Tuesday night.
So, who are you hoping lands a nomination from Beyond the Gates, General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, The Bay, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless? Let us know via the comment section. More Tuesday!
Breaking News
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards: ‘The View’, ‘Extra’ and ‘Entertainment Tonight’ to Reveal Major Categories in Early Nominations Rollout
As has been standard over the last several years, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, will get a early start on revealing the nominations for the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, next Monday July 13 and into the official nomination release today on Tuesday, July 14.
First up on Monday, July 13, Entertainment Tonight will announce the nominees in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category and the Outstanding Daytime Talk Series.
Entertainment Tonight airs in New York at 7:00pm ET (WCBS-TV) and in Los Angeles – 7:30pm PT (KCBS-TV), you can also check out local listings in your area here.
Next up, also on Monday, July 13, Extra will reveal the nominations in the categories of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Outstanding Daytime Talk Host.
Extra airs on New York at 7:00pm ET (WNYW) and in Los Angeles – 7:00pm PT (KTTV). Of note: some East Coast affiliates begin airing at 4:00pm ET. To check your local listings for when Extra airs in your market, click here.
Then, its on to the official 53rd annual Daytime Emmy nominations day on Tuesday, July 14 which will kick-off with the ladies of ABC’s The View revealing the nominee in the categories of Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, Outstanding Entertainment News Series, and Outstanding Daytime Personality – Daily.
The View airs in New York City and the east coast market – 11:00am ET, while on the West Coast and Los Angeles – 10:00am PT.
After that, on Tuesday, July 14, all eyes will be on the lookout for the announcement of all the remaining categories via the NATAS social channels beginning at 12pm noon ET/9am PT.
You will be able find the nominations at the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Daytime Emmys website: TheEmmys.tv/Daytime Instagram: Instagram.com/theemmys.tv and on X: X.com/TheEmmys .
Michael Fairman TV will also reveal the full list of nominations when they become available.
So, what do you think about Entertainment Tonight, Extra and The View set to reveal nominations in Lead Actor, Actress, Daytime Drama, and key talk show categories ahead of the full list of nominees? Weigh-in via the comment section, and let us know who you think will be announced as a nominee in the categories listed above.
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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Reconnects with Danny; Tristan Roberts Arrives in Port Charles, Lots of Nods to #16
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actress Drama Series
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actor Drama Series
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GENERAL HOSPITAL Spoilers Promo: Jason’s Back, Drew Begins to Make His Move, Portia Goes Into a Labor
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As The World Turns1 day agoScott Bryce, ‘As the World Turns’ Craig Montgomery, Passes Away at 68
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Beyond the Gates5 days ago‘The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards’ Nominations Announcement Date Revealed: Who Will Be Going For Gold?
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Breaking News4 days agoRandolph Mantooth, ‘Emergency!’ and ‘Loving’ Actor, Dies at 80
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Days Of Our Lives1 week agoJohn Oliver Previews Guest Star Turn on ‘Days of Our Lives’
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General Hospital4 days agoSteve Burton Returns to ‘General Hospital’ on Its 16,000th Episode: How Will Jason Be a Changed Man?
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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.