New The Young and the Restless cast member Jermaine Rivers has called out toxic soap opera fandoms. Best known for his roles in Devious Maids and MacGyver, Rivers joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in February 2025 as Damian Kane. As one of the newest actors to join the show, Rivers has been quick to make his presence felt.
Rivers has had a diverse range of roles, but Damian Kane, marks his first role on daytime TV, and it seems that he has mixed emotions about the experience so far. Rivers has apparently seen a growing trend among soap fans that he does not approve of, and felt compelled to speak out on it.
Per Soap Opera Digest, Rivers took to X to make his thoughts clear on toxic fans in the soap opera world. He discussed how the soap opera fan base has changed significantly over time, compared to how it used to be, lamenting the current state of the soap opera fan community. Check out Rivers’ comments below:
“I’m convinced that most (not all) of today’s so-called soap fans are far removed from the sweet old ladies who used to watch soaps faithfully in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. The internet has created some straight-up savages who seem to watch just so they can complain. What happened to watching soaps for the love of it? Why are y’all so mad, hateful, and constantly triggered?”
What This Means For The Young And The Restless & Its Relationship With Fans
Rivers’ Comments Apply To Fandom As A Whole, Not Just Soap Fans
While Rivers’ comments are critical and do not reflect his time on the soap very well, he does have a point. His comments are applicable to fandom as a whole, and not just soaps. The growth of social media has enabled fans from around the world to share their thoughts and opinions on what they are watching, and that has led to vicious commentary and toxic parasocial relationships.
The world of soap operas is unique in the film industry for its melodrama, ridiculous storylines, and multiple recastings, all of which are significant elements involved in soap operas. While a show like Y&R thrives on shocking twists like the Cane and Lily storyline, many fans in the fanbase oppose changes to the show.
Rivers highlights the fact that the fanbase has changed in recent times, and that the growth of social media has led more fans to complain than they used to. While this is true, it could also be argued that fans are dedicated viewers and thus have a right to complain and share their opinions on the soaps that they watch.
Our Take On Rivers’ Comments
Soap Fans Will Always Have Conflicting Views
Soap fans are dedicated to the weird and wonderful storylines that soaps produce, and there will always be conflicting views that come with fandom. It is true that many soap fans these days are quite negative, and plenty of commenters on Rivers’ post agreed with his assessment of toxic fandom.
Rivers later posted a follow-up about how he appreciates the dialogue it opened up, showing that honest and frank discussion is needed. As one of the longest-running TV shows ever, The Young and the Restless has continued to stand out and reinvent itself, and that won’t always go over well with fans. Still, they have to remember there are real people on the other end of their criticisms, or risk getting called out again.
