Hi, old friends—Marie here. And if you’re anything like me, a long-time Young and the Restless fan, then 2025 probably felt like watching your favorite house catch fire one room at a time. One day, it’s Nikki leaving. The next, Victor says goodbye. Then Claire’s just… gone.
I’ve been watching this show since back when VCRs were a thing, and I decided it’s time to cut through the PR fluff and break down the real reasons behind this year’s major actor exits.
Some departures were planned. Some felt like they were engineered. And in every case, fans had something to say.Let’s get into it. No filler—just real talk.
Eric Braeden’s retirement was billed as "the end of an era"—and honestly, that’s not an exaggeration. He played Victor Newman for over four decades. But his 2025 exit, while officially framed as a graceful retirement, came after a few years of health scares, including a public battle with cancer, and multiple contract stand-offs.
He once said—point blank—he had no plans to retire:“Hell no. No. Never.”So when he finally walked away, it wasn’t just health. Word is, friction with producers over creative direction and tighter budgets also played a role.
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