If you blinked, you missed it. Days of Our Lives just quietly broke up another couple off-screen, and fans are once again left feeling stunned, confused, and in some cases, completely frustrated.
During the July 24 episode on Peacock, two separate phone calls caught both characters and viewers off guard. Abe (James Reynolds) and Belle (Martha Madison) each heard from their kids, and both got the same news. Theo (Cameron Johnson) and Claire (Isabel Durant) had broken up. Just like that. No explanation.
For fans who had been rooting for their relationship, this felt like a letdown. Theo Carver and Claire Brady, lovingly known as “Cleo” by fans, had years of shared history. They grew up together, became close friends, fell in love, and weathered everything from jealousy and betrayals to complicated love triangles. Their story wasn’t always smooth, but it was one that felt real. It was easy to root for.
So why didn’t they get a proper ending?
A Look Back at Cleo: Claire and Theo
Theo and Claire’s relationship wasn’t just a plot device — it had roots. From their teenage years to adulthood, the two grew alongside each other. Whether it was sneaky Christmas espionage or navigating trust issues after a sex tape scandal, their love story had all the classic soap beats.
After years of false starts and heartbreaks including Claire’s scheming the two reunited and left Salem together for a fresh start in South Africa. Fans assumed they were doing well off-screen, and many held out hope they’d return to Salem stronger than ever.
Instead, we got a vague update via offhand phone calls: “We’re done.”
This kind of breakup is nothing new for Days of Our Lives. In fact, it has become a growing trend on soap operas overall. Characters leave town together, only for the audience to find out later that they’ve split up off-screen, usually through someone else’s dialogue. Sometimes there is no closure, no emotional payoff, and nothing for longtime fans to hold on to.
People have already started reacting on social media. The disappointment isn’t just about the breakup itself, but the way it was handled. Or not handled at all.
So what do you think? Did Theo and Claire deserve better? Let us know how you feel.
