In a heartfelt and shocking video post, Days of our Lives actor Freddie Smith (Sonny Kiriakis) reveals that he and Chandler Massey (Will Horton) have been let go from the NBC soap opera.
"I don't even know where to start. I just feel like everyone is going to be so shocked," he begins the video. "Chandler and I were released from our contracts so we will not be filming any more episodes after this week, or depending on schedule, the next couple of weeks. I just wanted everyone to know, to kind of rip the Band-Aid off, if you will, with this video."
Smith then clarfied that "it was not our choice" to exit DAYS because both he and Massey "were looking forward to staying on and keeping the story going."
He goes on to explain that after the show released its entire cast from their contracts and took a two and half month hiatus late last year, he and Massey were asked to return for six episodes as soon as the hiatus was over. They were hesitant about why it was just for six episodes but decided not to worry when they found out from the powers that be that other actors were in the same boat. However, their worries came back when they saw the scripts for those six episodes and realized it was the end of the line for Sonny and Will.
As for how the two are written out -- whether they are killed off, whether they just leave town, if they will go together, or if they will go solo -- Smith is unable to say. However, he does reveal that their last airdate will be Friday, September 18.
"No matter what happens, there are ways for people to come back, so is the door closed forever? I don't think so," he says. "But just the way things are feeling, I also don't want to give anyone a false sense of hope that we are coming back. I'd be super surprised if we don't have at least six months off before something MAY happen. But things could always change. I just don't know, but it doesn't feel like just a small couple little weeks or months [off]. It really feels a little more definite than that."
Smith goes on to say that he will post another video with Massey in the days ahead, where they'll get into the finer details of what happened behind the scenes and what fans can expect from them next.
"We went through an emotional roller coaster over the last eight days [since finding out]," Smith says about how he and Massey are feeling, adding that it was not their choice to leave the show. "Chandler and I were looking forward to staying on and signing a contract and keep[ing] this storyline going. At the same time, now that I've had time to process the whole thing, I do understand that there is a lot happening with Days of our Lives."
Smith joined DAYS in 2011 and played Sonny -- the first openly gay contract character on the NBC series -- until 2015. He returned to the show in 2016 and has been playing Justin and Adrienne's son ever since.
Massey joined DAYS in 2010 and in 2012 became the first actor in history to win a Daytime Emmy for playing a male gay character, which he followed up again in 2013. That same year, Massey chose to leave the NBC series, and the soap cast Guy Wilson in the role. Massey returned in 2017 and has been playing Lucas and Sami's son since.
Sonny and Will's DAYS romance made history for being the first wedding between two men in US daytime drama history. Says Smith, "WilSon became something that is in stone forever... as this same-sex couple who told this amazing storyline. We started at a time when it wasn't as mainstream."
He concludes, "Though [our exit] is sad and shocking, I want to celebrate what we've created, I want to talk with Chandler about the good times, and I want to talk about our future, and that's what I want to focus on. I want you all to come and celebrate with us, and we'll keep you posted with everything."
Though fans will have to wait until Smith's second video to hear an in-depth explanation from Massey, the actor took to social media to thank fans for their support.
"Wish it weren't coming to an end, but I will be forever grateful to everyone who went on this journey with us," Massey shared.
Wish it weren't coming to an end, but I will be forever grateful to everyone who went on this journey with us. https://t.co/Wv0ZfQwFGo
— Chandler Massey (@ChandlerMassey) February 12, 2020
A follow-up article reveals how Chandler and Freddie found out there were being let go. You can read that here.
What do you think about Freddie Smith and Chandler Massey being let go from Days of our Lives? How do you think the characters will exit Salem? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
