A ‘Days Of Our Lives’ staple just got unexpected news about his character and fans can’t handle it

Soap opera actors often find themselves in the same kind of suspense as their viewers, anxiously waiting to see if their characters will meet a dramatic end or experience a rare moment of happiness. Recently, a star from Days of Our Lives shared some upsetting news about his character, and it turns out he learned this information months ago.

Brandon Barash, who plays Stefan DiMera, revealed to Soaps.sheknows.com that he was let go from the show back in March 2024. However, he only announced it now, as Stefan’s final episode will air on October 28, 2024. Barash explained that the decision came from the show’s writers. Janet Spellman-Drucker, the co-executive producer, told him, “You’re very talented,” but they felt it was time to take the character in a different direction.

Barash also shared that this isn’t the first time he’s faced this situation. He was let go from Days of Our Lives in 2020, just a year after starting to portray Stefan. This experience has left him feeling a bit jaded, stating that he doesn’t have “trust” in the process anymore. He noted that any future return to the role would need to come with the right story and contract. Although he admitted it was tough on his ego, he maintained a positive outlook, encouraging others who might be facing similar challenges in life. He expressed, “I walked out of the office equal parts shocked and excited about what was around the corner.”

While Barash’s attitude is quite mature and optimistic, fans have mixed feelings about his departure. Just as they have grown attached to Rafe Hernandez, they’re not ready to say goodbye to Barash or Stefan!

Fans are also left wondering how this change will affect Stefan’s love interest, Gabi Hernandez, played by Camila Banus. Are her days on the soap numbered? (Pun intended!) For now, she appears safe, so fans can breathe a little easier—at least for today.

Getting fired is never easy, and discussing it publicly adds another layer of difficulty. Keeping such news under wraps since March must have been a real challenge! I can’t imagine how hard it would be to keep something like that secret; I usually spill the beans to my close friends almost immediately!

With fans constantly speculating about their characters’ futures, it must be tempting for Barash to reveal more than he should. I really admire his honesty in addressing the situation. It would also be great for him to feel the love from fans, which might help soften the blow of his departure. He mentioned in an interview with Soap Opera Digest that he doesn’t typically read fan discussions online, but he does check messages on Twitter and Instagram. Given the passion fans have for Stefan, I bet his inbox is overflowing with messages now!

When we think about the emotional impact of losing a beloved character, it’s reminiscent of the five stages of grief, famously outlined by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. Although these stages were meant for people dealing with their own mortality, they can also apply to fans mourning a character’s exit. After processing their initial denial about Stefan leaving Days of Our Lives, fans may go through anger and bargaining before eventually coming to terms with the news. Perhaps we could even propose a sixth stage of grief focused on hoping that Barash lands a fantastic new role and that Stefan makes a return to Salem!