The Young and the Restless
Y&R’s Jermaine Rivers Sounds Off on Toxic and ‘Mean-Spirited’ Fans, and Asks, “What Happened to Watching Soaps For the Love of It?”
Jermaine Rivers (Damian, The Young and the Restless) has a point and a serious question to ponder, “What happened to watching soaps for the love of it?” We all have been privy to some fans who take to social media and use it as a platform to just spew negativity, and to take it to the extreme, as opposed to those who may offer up constructive criticism.
For Rivers, who debuted on the top-rated soap opera as Damian Kane back in February of this year, being on a daytime drama comes with some things that take getting used to, including: reading threads of sometimes venomous comments on social media, about you, your show, your castmates or other shows, and the genre as a whole.
On Tuesday, Jermaine took to his account on X and shared his sentiments, explaining his take on the situation: “I’m convinced that most (Not all) of today’s so called soap fans are far removed from the sweet old ladies who watched it back in the 70’s 80’s and 90’s. The internet has created some Straight Savages who are mean spirited and tune in to just complain about the show’s they watch. What happened to watching Soaps for the love of it? Why are Y’all so mad, hateful and triggered for?”

Photo: JPI
As fans joined in the thread with their comments on Rivers initial post, one wrote, “To be fair, lets put some of this on the shows esp, Bold who’s given us much to complain about. When the shows are good we praise them.”
Jermaine replied, “It comes down to Emotional Intelligence… if someone gets triggered by watching a Soap there’s a deeper problem that’s not being addressed in their personal life. It’s clearly evidence of some unhealed trauma that the viewer hasn’t worked through. Let’s not place blame on a fictional TV character or storyline that’s being played out for entertainment purposes as an excuse for toxic behavior. We’re not dodging accountability over here!”

Photo: JPI
Later, soap fan, Stini the Great responded, “I blame social media. It allows a person to hide behind a keyboard (or phone) and say things that they would never dare to say to someone’s face.” To which Rivers, replied, “Bingo” with an accompanying applause gif.
Later, Rivers qualified that the reason he took to X to air his grievance with the online haters is not about hate he may or may not be receiving about the pairing of Damian and Lily. Rivers responded, “I’m not talking about me… I rarely look at the comments and when I do I shrug it off. But looking across the board … the stuff that I’m seeing online about all Soaps in general is just nasty work. There’s a lot of toxicity out there.”

Photo: JPI
After his initial comments and the remarks made by fans in his thread, Rivers concluded and posted, “Love the fact that we can all have an open, honest and respectful discussion. This is what Social Media is supposed to look like.”
So, what do you think of the point Jermaine is making? Do we all need to go back and remember why we watched soaps in the first place? Is there too much negativity towards the shows and its cast members? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
I’m convinced that most (Not all) of today’s so called soap fans are far removed from the sweet old ladies who watched it back in the 70’s 80’s and 90’s. The internet has created some Straight Savages who are mean spirited and tune in to just complain about the show’s they…
— Jermaine Rivers (@JermaineRivers) July 1, 2025
Hey, I am beginning to like the character and I can see him with Lily. He can hold his own and I think can exist outside of the Dumas/Cane storyline. The brother is handsome and has a strong personality. I loved it when he put Audra on notice! I hope he is not one of the victims in the coming week/weeks.
I agree. I took a disliking to him when he was so harsh with his mom and Nate at the beginning. I also did not like the way he seemed to almost leer at Lily from glance one.
From those inauspicious beginnings, the actor has slowly won me over. He’s very good and I am now enjoying the character as well. I can see Damien with Lily as well, he is quite handsome. Damien and Lily would be beautiful paired together.
I must say however, that I do have a soft spot for OG Lane. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
There are too many miserable people who only get joy when they can bring others down.
Oh please, fans are allowed to express their opinions. Treating fans like this actor does it. No but seriously, he thinks he’s who. What would happen it if fans stopped to watch ? And of course that comes from a newbie. Actors portraying longtime characters never would act like that. No they even like & retweet our posts. They understand our feelings because they know the show is bad. We don’t blame the actors, we blame the writing. Fans aren’t forced to love the characters or everything they make or every storyline.
Fans should always express their opinions but far too many behave as though they cannot distinguish between a scripted series and reality. So many mean spirited comments are targeted at the actors when they are simply doing a job like anyone else. I understand fans being invested but that doesn’t give license to be cruel or inconsiderate. It’s as if soap viewing causes some fans misery and if that’s the case they need to seek entertainment elsewhere.
A M E N!!! You hit the nail on the head.
But too many fans express their opinions disrespectfully. That’s the problem. People have forgotten to be civil and that actors and, yes, the writers are also human beings with feelings.
Agreed, SonniOrSolita (and yes, I’ve been around to get the reference, ha! good for you!). I’m going to be civil and respectful, or try to be, anyway, but I’m also going to tell the truth. I’ve been watching soaps since the mid-1970s, and most of what’s being put on the air today is far inferior to what we were seeing back in the 70s, 80s, and even the 90s (though the decline in storytelling quality had begun by the middle of that decade). Maybe those “sweet old ladies” (not-so-sweet old man here, but I was a young and middle-aged man watching back then, and I take a little umbrage at his characterization of the audience, which wasn’t entirely female–plus, unless he’s much older than he looks, he wasn’t even alive in the 70s or much of the 80s, so I’m not sure how he’d know) were sweet old ladies because what they were watching didn’t give them so much to be cranky about. The real decline in quality began about the time the internet became accessible to a wider group, so it’s hard to say which caused which; I think it’s true that the anonymity of the internet brings out the super-nasty side of some people, and that’s been appalling to see, but I think it’s also true that the internet started letting previously isolated soap viewers compare notes and realize that, hey, “I’m not the only one who thinks what I’m seeing on my screen is crap compared to a few years ago.” So those “sweet old ladies” might not have been so sweet by the 2000s, regardless. Beyond the Gates is restoring my faith that good soap CAN be made in today’s environment, but that has the corollary effect of making me wonder–AGAIN–why the other four shows have storytelling styles that range from uneven, at best, to absolutely awful. I don’t blame the writers; I suspect they’re doing the best they can to deal with what the networks dictate (as well as doing their best to get hired on BTG, if they’re smart). I don’t blame the actors, who, as others have noted, are just trying to make the scripts work (with even less rehearsal time, apparently, than they used to get).
I think it’s worth pointing out, however, that sometimes, even if you’re civil and respectful in the way you express yourself, sometimes the truth is going to hurt. There are tons of talented actors on the soaps, but there are some genuinely bad ones as well, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise when a show hands a big storyline to an actor who’s not remotely capable of carrying it or when somebody clearly starts phoning it in (though I do have some sympathy for the latter). I think most of the writers are much better than they get credit for, but I’m also not going to pretend otherwise when what I see on the screen isn’t working at any level or when a show’s or character’s history has been so badly violated that I’m looking at my TV and thinking, “This can’t be happening. She’d never say that, she’d never do that” or “Wait a minute; that isn’t what happened” or just plain out “WTF?” I can do a better job of not being quite so blunt sometimes, and I work on that; there are multiple ways to say the same thing, and some of them are softer than others but make the same point less stridently. But even without some of the outrageous nastiness I see in some of the comments, some of what needs to be said simply isn’t pretty or pleasant. “Watching soaps for the love of it” is hard when there’s not nearly as much to love as there used to be, especially if you’re in my position, you’ve watched them for years and you KNOW they can be considerably better than they currently are.
Like a lot of “oldies”, I started watching daytime dramas around 1980 with my mom (who swears she never watched…okay mom, I know better). The shows were very well done back in those days. I was mainly a CBS viewer: Capitol, ATWT, Guiding Light, Y&R and Bold. I would catch a little of some of the other shows when they had storylines about the LGBT community and stories about HIV/AIDS (after all, I’m gay). Slowly, a lot of the older shows were dropping like flies. Watched the series finales for Capitol, the beginning of Bold and the ends of GL and ATWT. I kept on watching Y&R and Bold until Brad Bell at Bold did the unthinkable….he fired Krista Allen from her role as Taylor. That was when I stopped watching Bold for good. I don’t know why he felt that it was necessary to fire her (she was doing a great job I might add), although rumors and gossip was basically saying that Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke) told Brad to get rid of her. Whether or not that’s true, who knows. Then, practically a year after KA was let go, her comes her replacement Rebecca Budig! I mean seriously!? She is way too young for that role. I still refuse to watch Bold.
Then along came a brand new daytime drama in the form of Beyond The Gates, the brain child of Michele Val Jean!! After finding out was being cast on the show, I was like….yessss mama! I’m here for it! What took me completely by surprise was the network was more than ready to back a new show that ALSO had the blessing P & G and the NAACP! I was hooked from second 1! Haven’t missed an episode!!
I do agree 100% with Jermaine Rivers and the personal attacks that some of his cast members are getting and attacks that were uncalled for. These are human beings who are playing characters and saying dialogue that is questionable at best.
Now, let us all stop being cruel to the actors….PLEASE! It’s not their fault that the writing is bad (looking at you Brad Bell and Josh Griffith). Let just enjoy the show(s). Because we never should take them for granted….they’re on our screens one minute and gone the next.
agree.
Well said. He speaks out of insecurity. He knows he is too old for this role and not a sexy bone in his body. Wrong character role. As I have sad many sites ago. He is almost as old as his mother. He does not turn my head.—Holden fits this role to the max. He is fire. . ❤️
Damian’s arrival in GC is a very good thing. Jermaine’s portrayal has a similar essence to when Neil arrived, though not saying anything about him replacing KSJ. I think his arrival is finally moving the Younger of YandR generation forward. He’s grounding yet complex. This character is developing nicely, and yes, he will be a good choice for Lily.
I’d like to see Sally end up with the “new” Cane – I fully see Courtney Hope and Billy Flynn rocking that combo.
And it seems that Chance will probably be the one departing to the heavens since Connor is taking over the DOOL role of Chad DiMero that Flynn left.
I just want to see some on-screen chemistry – not so interested in all of the business sellings and acquisitions.
Agreed with everything you ve mentioned! Hes given the Winters a worthy male head of the fam. Devon wasnt cutting it. Jermaine s been a excellent invaluable addition since the moment he arrived with an attitude, charm and some real acting chops!
I hope he and Lily become a solid couple!
Good for him. Too many soap message boards are full of people making nasty comments and arguing savagely over fictional characters. If you’re full of that much hatred, find another outlet to vent!
Nothing to do with hate, but everything to do with opinion—-Seems to me YOU are expressing hate. This is an opinion piece—If you don’t like it, don’t read it. I can express whether I think this actor fits the role. He definitely does not. It is my truth and you do not have to like it.
Fortunately, I have not seen the nasty comments and don’t want to. People should not be saying nasty stuff. I don’t always enjoy the stories or actors or characters, but I like my soaps overall.
Sorry, but calling/insinuating “most” mentally ill was a poor choice of words. It really was. The concept of what he’s talking about rings true… but his execution was entirely too poor and leaves a poor taste in my mouth.
Saying that someone lacks emotional intelligence is not the same as saying they are mentally ill. You are putting words into his mouth and might want to re-read that statement again.
This started with “participation trophies”. Everyone being coddled to. Now when things don’t go the way they want, they throw a temper tantrum to get their “trophy”. Add that to social media allowing people to have no filter (or decency) in the name of free speech and it has all gone crazy!
I’ve watched Y&R since it’s inception in the 70’s. As I’m getting closer to retirement, I have a little more time to record or watch online to see what’s happening in Genoa City. I remember the days they left you with a cliffhanger on Friday, and you couldn’t wait til Monday. Not just Y&R, but mostly all of the soaps were written so much better years ago. We got hooked on soaps not because it was something to watch on tv, but because the writing was so good. The script writers knew what they were doing. People tuned in.
The networks (at least CBS) seems to have little interest in improving the products because in the world of daytime, they are still number 1. But the writing has suffered, especially on Y&R. Story lines start and stop on a dime, some with no resolutions. Having the same person be the Executive Producer AND Head Writer is a big mistake. I always hope Y&R gets better. The actors are top notch. But they are only as good as the material they are given, and frankly, the material over the last few seasons has been mediocre at best. Sorry if those of us who complain bother some posters, but we really do care about the QUALITY of the show, and it’s severely lacking. The fact that Y&R brought in a new wardrobe person to spruce up the actors is good, but it doesn’t solve the problem with poor story telling.
Michael did you forget your interview with Jeanne Cooper? It was on July 26, 2012.
This is what she said:
When there was the ‘Who Killed Phillip?’ storyline and our characters were in court, and being thrown about, a faction of fans lined up at CBS with posters marching, and this group flew in from the east coast. And they were pro- Brenda (Jill). Then, I in turn said to her, ‘Well all these people must have gotten pregnant by someone else’s husband.’ They had to get us out of the studio because we had death threats! They would say that I or she ‘deserved to die.’ Oh, the studio was very quiet about that, and they had police stand there. It was wild!”
Viewers were like this from day one! They were flying across the country and threatening actors and protesting stories in person. It’s no worse now. Social media
I tend to be patient when my soaps enter a period of lackluster writing. It helps that the acting on the shows is almost uniformly excellent. When you consider the tremendous pressure and workload that is presented by preparing more than 250 fresh hours (mostly) of drama each year, it’s truly remarkable that these shows ever achieve aspired heights. That said, while I deplore attacks on specific actors, I think that it’s useful for the producers of these shows to have a way to monitor how their stories are impacting their fans and allow for adjustments. There is tremendous value in constructive criticism, and I urge my fellow fans to focus on that.
Maybe, it’s because you are in the wrong role, sir—I , for one, do not question your performance. I question TPTB trying to couple you with Lily—no tension, no sexiness—Holden would have been a better choice. My opinion.
Not a good look when you bite the hand that feeds you. He makes some good points, but don’t attack your customer base!
Recaps
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Sharon, Nick and Marie Struggle in Aftermath of a Relapse; Jade Harlow Shares She’s ‘Really Proud’ and ‘Grateful’ to ‘Show How Addiction Can Touch Anyone’ (Exclusive)

There has been mixed reactions from fans of the The Young and the Restless, as they tell the story of Nick Newman‘s (Joshua Morrow) descent into drug addiction.
However, on the Thursday, August 13 episode of the CBS daytime drama series, it provided one of the more gut-wrenching turns in the tale, which showcased three performances that broke our hearts from Joshua Morrow, Sharon Case and Jade Harlow.
In the pick-up of the previous episode, after Nick phones Sharon for help, Sharon arrives at Crimson Lights disheveled and in tears and hugs Mariah (Camryn Grimes). She explains to her daughter that Nick is back in the rehab facility, and when Mariah asks how he’s doing, Sharon says she’s not even sure Nick knows how he’s doing.

Courtesy/CBS
SHARON COMES TO NICK’S RESCUE
We then get a flashback of how Nick grabbed onto Sharon’s waist and just cried from the motel bed. Sharon says he was just broken, and he needed a lifeline and called someone he trusted. She thinks in the moment Nick knew his addiction would be a lifelong battle.
Sadly, Sharon is gutted when she realized he used and had sex with another junkie the night before and breaks down. Sharon explains that even she is only present in her own life right now because someone one helped her over and over again, and if she can do that for Nick, she always will. In the scenes, Sharon Case played Sharon’s anguish over seeing her soulmate in such a terrible state, and it was effective and heartbreaking.
As for Nick, he is now in rehab in a group meeting confessing his relapse. He left his home for one night and didn’t want to come back. Instead, he hit up his drug dealer, ended up in a dump of a motel room, had a horrible nightmare (Monday’s episode), and relapsed with the addict in the room next to his, who then OD’d and almost died. Nick realizes he finds himself deep in the throes of addiction and can’t seem to get out. Another strong performance by Joshua Morrow in the storyline of his soap career.

Photo: JPI
NICK AND MARIE TRY TO COME TO TERMS WITH THEIR RELAPSE
Next, Marie shows up at the meeting, fresh off almost losing her life and illustrates just how much emotional pain she in. Marie sits next to Nick. She’s there because the hospital handed her a flyer after a night with bad and great moments. She breaks down, but gives herself a pat on the back for showing up at a meeting.
After the meeting, Nick asks Marie if she’ll check into the program. She says needs a little more time, but assures him she will not forget last night anytime soon. As they say goodbye, Nick asks if she’ll be back. She flirts with him then makes her exit. Jade Harlow was also heartbreaking in her scenes showing the deep conflict within an addict.
After the airing of the episode, Jade Harlow shared with Michael Fairman TV, “I’m really proud and really grateful to work with this incredible team & show (through the constraints we have) how addiction can touch anyone. And all we can do is try to survive it, and love each other through.”
VIEWER DISCOURSE OVER THE ADDICTION STORYLINE
Fans of course took to Michael Fairman TV’s Instagram with different perspectives on the story, from: “Great actors. But the story lines just drag out so long that it ruins the show,’ to ‘Incredible performances from everyone. This episode definitely hit home, and I was absolutely gutted. What an emotional, powerful episode. All the actors bravo take a bow.”
Other Y&R fans jumped into the comment thread with, “Agree the acting was absolutely superb BUT and I say this genuinely respectfully, THIS IS NOT WHY PEOPLE WATCH SOAPS! In fact it’s the opposite! I watch Y&R at the end of my crazy days as a treat to myself. It’s not heavy, it’s not deep, it softens my day. This story does the opposite. 50 yr viewer and I’m done until this story is over. It’s too much,” and “Today’s show was incredible! Totally agree the actors were in their prime. Sharon was so real, she brought you into the situation like it was real life. Nick was exceptional as well, we feel his desperation and utter disappointment and fear! Marie- such talent to drop into a show and portray this character on their worst day! Wow! Great job to the writers and cast!
While yes, this is a soapified version of the harrowing effects of addiction, the work by Y&R’s Morrow, Case and Harlow within its confines should not be discounted. They delivered.
So, how did you feel about the scenes where Sharon rescues Nick, he goes to meeting in rehab, and Marie shows up after their night together in the seedy motel room? Are you all-in with this storyline and going on the journey with it, or are you a viewers who wants it to stop? And, what did you think of the performances of Jade Harlow, Joshua Morrow and Sharon Case? Let us know via the comment section below.
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News
Lucas Adams Lands First Roles Post-Y&R on ABC Crime Drama ‘R.J. Decker’ and a Top Secret Project

After Lucas Adams was suddenly written-out of story as Noah Newman on The Young and the Restless, viewers of the CBS soap opera had a bit of whiplash. However, Adams has already booked his next roles, and is said to be filming the second season of the ABC primetime crime drama R.J. Decker.
According to New Beginnings Entertainment, Lucas has been cast in a guest star role on R.J. Decker, but also a ‘really secretive project’ that is keeping him busy this month.
R.J. Decker returns for its second season beginning on Tuesday, September 15 (10pm ET). There is no further word yet when the episode that features Adams will fall in the programming schedule.

Photo: JPI
The primetime drama is inspired by the 1987 novel Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen, and follows the story of a discredited newspaper photographer and ex-con played by series lead Scott Speedman. Each week, Decker tries to make a fresh start as a private eye in one of Southern Florida’s crime-filled areas leading to the drama.
HOW NOAH AND SIENNA LEFT GENOA CITY
It was back on the August 3 episode that fans of The Young and the Restless learned that Noah and Sienna Bacall (Tamara Braun) decided to leave Genoa City and head back to Los Angeles as long as Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) was still running around on the loose, amnesia or no amnesia.
Noah gave Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian) the gig as the manager of the newly-opened ‘Shadow Room’ in town to look after it. Noah informed his parents (Nick and Sharon) he hoped one day to be back in Genoa City when it was safe again.
Adams made his Y&R debut back on November 4, 2025 as the successor to Rory Gibson who last played Noah on-screen until April of 2023. Lucas also played Tripp Dalton on Days of Our Lives from 2017-2024 with multiple runs on the soap opera.
So, glad to know Lucas Adams will be back on your screens soon? Missing him on The Young and the Restless? What could be the ‘secretive project’ he’s working on? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.
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Recaps
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Nick’s Cry for Help After Drug-Induced Near-Death Experience Rattles Him to His Core

The Young and the Restless continues to tell the soap opera version of the harrowing effects of drug addiction and in its way taking viewers to the dark side an addict goes through.
For months, stand up guy, Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) has been battling using Fentanyl to get high and failing miserably. He only had spent one day in rehab, and since then has been in a downward spiral.
Now in a rundown motel room, Nick has sex with the junkie from next door, a woman named Marie, played by multi-Emmy winner, Jade Harlow in her new recurring role. Cut to: later both are dozing off in bed, when Nick gets up beginning to realize just what has gone on between the two of them.

Courtesy/CBS
Nick decides to write Marie a note as he gets dressed which says, “Marie, I don’t know really what to say except I hope you find a way out of this life. I pray we both do.” Next, he leaves the note on the nightstand next to her. When Nick calls out her name, he realizes something is wrong. He can’t wake Marie up and believes she has OD’d. When he can’t feel Marie’s pulse, he begins to shake her and performs CPR, which finally rallies her back to life.
However, Marie is not too happy Nick did that. She wishes he had left her to die. Nick wants to call the paramedics. Marie freaks out and cries if he calls 911, she will have to deal with the consequences of her husband and everyone will be aware of her drug problem. Nick refuses to just leave her like this and makes the call anyway.
Later, Nick watches the paramedics take Marie from the motel room and then, sadly, lies down on the bed, crying his eyes out for where he finds himself in his life, and the near-death experience he just watched.

Courtesy/CBS
At rock bottom and with nowhere to turn, Nick grabs his phone and makes a call to the one person he loves and trusts and who he thinks can come help him, his longtime love Sharon. After everything the two have been through, the ups and the downs, Nick must feel she can truly rescue him in is time of need, Nick says, he needs her to come and get him. We fade to black.
It seems from social media posts and reactions, many Y&R viewers are split on this storyline. Some want it to just end already and don’t like seeing what the writers (then under former head writer Josh Griffith) have done to Nick Newman, while others are really impressed by the performances of Joshua Morrow and Y&R and how they are tackling a social issue of our time.
So, where do you stand, and what did you think of the scenes today between Marie and Nick? Let us know in the comment section. And, in case you missed it, Joshua Morrow and Mark Grossman (Adam) recently appeared on a livestream chat on the Michael Fairman Channel where they talked about the twists and turns in Nick’s addiction story and more. You can watch it below.
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