When a Kiss Isn't Just a Kiss: Did Gay Sex Twist Really Cause Engen to Exit Y&R?

[LuvCoop1]

From Daytime Confidential:

When a Kiss Isn't Just a Kiss: Did Gay Sex Twist Really Cause Engen to Exit Y&R?
Submitted by Jamey Giddens on June 19, 2009 - 5:02pm
 



          Chris Engen as the old Victor Adam Newman Jr.                                    



               Yanni Gellman as Rafael Torres



Michael Muhney as the new Victor Adam Newman Jr.


More information is coming out— pardon the pun— about the behind-the-scenes drama that allegedly led to Chris Engen (soon-to-be-ex-Adam) bolting from The Young and the Restless in the middle of his contract. According to TV Guide Canada's Nelson Branco's sources, it was the writers decision to have Adam sleep with Rafe (Yanni Gelman), that caused Engen to jet quicker than you could say Brokeback Genoa City!

On June 24, fans are forced to say goodbye to Chris Engen as Adam. The next day, Michael Muhney replaces him as Genoa City’s biggest psycho — well, next to Mary Jane and myself! As for Engen, The Suds Report can now reveal, that according to our sources, the reported reason the actor bolted was because he refused to film a scene in which Rafe and Adam have sex, which airs later next week. We didn't want to ruin the story, so we kept the plot twist under wraps by saying it was just a kiss. Yep, that's right — Adam sleeps with Rafe to keep him quiet. And it's not the last time they "do it."

[Brhannada's Armour]

I don't watch Y & R or read Nelson Branco's ravings, but I know enough of their history to be sure that Mr. Branco is lying. He and those who cite him say that they knew all along that the plot twist was sex, not a kiss, but didn't want to ruin the story by giving away too much? So, why are they blabbing now? The scene hasn't aired yet, so they are still spoiling the story, right? And what soap journalist would sit on a spoiler? Certainly not Mr. Branco, who typically errs on the side of exaggeration.

Mr. Branco often publishes his malicious opinions of actors as if they were fact. Why should we take his gossip about Chris Engen more seriously than his calling Jake Silbermann a terrible actor in one column and a talented newcomer in the next? Mr. Engen has already contradicted Mr. Branco's allegations: he never "stormed off the set," he had only one meeting with head writer Maria Arena Bell, and he only called in sick once. It's Mr. Branco's word against Mr. Engen's, and Mr. Branco has a pattern of unprofessionalism and a tabloid to sell. Why would Mr. Engen lie? He has already taken the risk that he will never get another contract after breaking this one; if he made this sacrifice for homophobic principles, wouldn't he be proud to declare them now? Already, many of his fans are applauding him on the assumption that he stood up for Catholic values - and instead of thanking them, Mr. Engen has said that he has gay friends and doesn't side with any religion against them. Of course, Mr. Branco knows that the timing looks bad, and Mr. Engen will never be able to prove that it's a coincidence. Nevertheless, no matter who's lying, surely we can agree that an actor's politics are none of our business? Why Mr. Engen quit is between him and his employer, and our attention should instead be on whether Y & R is gay-friendly or homophobic.

Y & R had the first GLBT theme on any soap, when core character Katherine Chancellor became possessive of her houseguest Joanne Curtis. The story was quickly dropped due to the perception that viewers were turning off the TV in protest. Since then, to my knowledge, Y & R has stayed away from GLBT characters with one exception: when Nick Newman was in prison, Larry Wharton used some sexual innuendo to harass him. This latest spoiler suggests that once again, Y & R is exploiting homosexuality for shock value. Homosexual intercourse will be portrayed as just one more despicable thing that Adam does, and Rafe will go along with it as a gay man who needs sex so badly that he doesn't care that Adam feels no attraction to him. I don't know what Mr. Engen meant by being asked to do something "unprecedented," but cruelty to a minority sure fits the bill.

[LuvCoop1]

Hey BA,

You make some valid points.  I don't think it was Nelson Branco holding back from his audience of TV Guide Canada, it was Daytime Confidential that was not reporting what he said until later.  Why DC is releasing now, I have no clue.  It does spoil it for many of the rest of us.  I was aware of what Chris Engen said about the incident, because I posted his comments here.  I have also posted Yanni Gellman's comments as well.

Usually timing is of the essence, but poor timing has a tendency to backfire on you.  I think it did in this case.

[jbsoapfan]

As a fan of Y&R and a "love to hate him" fan of Adam...I was VERY disappointed that the Adam I loved to hate quit/was replaced.  Adam is a pretty key character, so I suspected that the storyline may have been behind the 'switch' in actors.  Too bad; this new Adam just isn't "Adam" and we've been waiting SO long for Adam to get caught in his web of deceit...it just won't have the same payoff when this new face finally gets busted.

As for the thought that Y&R is exploiting homosexuality...yes, I think you are right...it does draw attention.  However, I don't think that the fact of homosexuality is being portrayed as despicable...it is Adam's deceit/betrayal and the extreme lengths to which he will go to get his vengeance ('cause let's face it, a hetero guy would NOT have sex with another guy any more than a homosexual would want to be with a woman) that is to be seen as despicable.  Rafe is not being painted in a negative way for being gay...

just my take
 

[deolpaynt]

jbsoapfan wrote:

As a fan of Y&R and a "love to hate him" fan of Adam...I was VERY disappointed that the Adam I loved to hate quit/was replaced.  Adam is a pretty key character, so I suspected that the storyline may have been behind the 'switch' in actors.  Too bad; this new Adam just isn't "Adam" and we've been waiting SO long for Adam to get caught in his web of deceit...it just won't have the same payoff when this new face finally gets busted.

As for the thought that Y&R is exploiting homosexuality...yes, I think you are right...it does draw attention.  However, I don't think that the fact of homosexuality is being portrayed as despicable...it is Adam's deceit/betrayal and the extreme lengths to which he will go to get his vengeance ('cause let's face it, a hetero guy would NOT have sex with another guy any more than a homosexual would want to be with a woman) that is to be seen as despicable.  Rafe is not being painted in a negative way for being gay...

just my take
 

I certainly argee with you jb, I liked chris as adam but didn't like what the writers did to him. Even for a soap the evil that he has done is sickening. What i have read from what he has said is "It was pesonally depressing for him" to have to play this person especially the baby killing thing. I know the phobes like to jump on the chance that it was the gay portion of the s/l but that is not what he said! I think for people to have this image of evil instilled in their minds and than put his face to it is far worse than the gay s/l would have done. I know with myself after I saw Robert Blake acting in the movie "In cold blood" I would never watch anything he did after. The same went for James Wood after seeing the "The Onion Field" Just one of my hang-up's I guess.

[mexican]

its too bad the old adam left but i understand y its no big deal i wish he would come back though

[LuvCoop1]

mexican wrote:

its too bad the old adam left but i understand y its no big deal i wish he would come back though

Yes, old Adam chose his own path to follow.  I enjoy the new Adam, Michael Muhney.