The Young and the Restless newcomer Jermaine Rivers, who joined the cast as Damian Kane earlier this year, took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent about what he sees as a growing wave of toxic and “mean-spirited” fans in the soap world. And he wasn’t holding back.
In his candid post, Rivers wrote:
“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?”
He added the hashtag #SpreadLove, a gentle nudge to remind folks that it’s still possible to enjoy our soaps without spreading negativity.
Of course, social media is the place where fans sound off on storylines, characters, couples, you name it. But as Rivers points out, it can also be a breeding ground for some seriously harsh (and sometimes unnecessary) hateful remarks.
Just scroll through the replies under any major soap thread and you’ll find fans calling certain actors “boring,” and sometimes even demanding the firing of longtime cast members or claiming a new character is “ruining the show.” Now, everyone’s entitled to their opinion, and there’s nothing wrong with sharing it, but there’s a way to do it that doesn’t involve being downright cruel.
Later, in a follow-up post, Rivers emphasized the importance of respectful dialogue:
“I love the fact that we can all have an open, honest, and respectful discussion. This is what social media is supposed to look like.”
Naturally, his post started gaining traction, and fans jumped into the thread to weigh in. One user chimed in:
“I blame social media. It lets people hide behind a keyboard (or phone) and say things they’d never dare say to someone’s face.”
Jermaine Rivers responded:
“Bingo!!!” (This was accompanied by a GIF of people clapping!)
For those who don’t know, Rivers is new to the soap opera scene, having made his Young and the Restless debut back in February. But he’s definitely no rookie when it comes to the acting world. He’s best known for playing Shatter on Fox/Marvel’s The Gifted, and has also had roles in Devious Maids, If Loving You Is Wrong, The Haves and the Have Nots, Our Kind of People, Dynasty, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, and more.
It’s clear Rivers is passionate about his work—and about fostering a more positive space for fans and actors alike.
What do you think—has social media made soap fans more savage than sweet? Is Jermaine Rivers right about the soap fans of today? Whether you agree with Rivers or not, one thing’s clear—soap operas are still sparking passionate debates after all these years. (Photo: Bill Inoshita/CBS.)
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