Young & Restless’ Richard Burgi Reveals Why He Was Let Go: ‘It Bothers Me Mightily’ — Plus, His Message to the New Ashland
Wednesday, January 12th, 2022
“I just wanted to set the record straight,” the actor said at the start of a January 11 Instastory.
After reading about his exit from Young & Restless online, Richard Burgi returned to social media to clarify the reason he’d no longer be playing Ashland. “My wife had said something about it being the show’s choice, which is true,” he noted. “But the reality is that I naively and inadvertently violated the show’s COVID policy.
“I was back East over Christmas and tested positive somewhere around Christmas at my niece’s house visiting my 97-year-old mom,” he continued. He “took the necessary five days the CDC had recommended [to isolate], came back and then went and tested negatively twice at the studio Tuesday and Wednesday, and showed up to work.”
Burgi believed that he was doing his due diligence. “But it was not within the show’s guidelines,” he pointed out. “So I inadvertently violated the show’s COVID rules and protocols.
“I felt terrible about it,” he continued. “I still do. It bothers me mightily, but it is what it is. I respect whatever the show’s decision is. They’re doing the best they can, as we all are.”
More: Eric Braeden and Betty White… an on-screen couple?!?
In closing, Burgi, whose other soap credits include Another World, Days of Our Lives and General Hospital, sang the praises of The Young and the Restless. “I have nothing but good memories and good wishes for it,” he said after sending a supportive message to his successor, Robert Newman (Josh, Guiding Light). “I truly wish the gentleman who’s coming in to play Ashland a wonderful time. He’s going to be working with the most incredible actress and great, great cast.”
While we prepare for the Ashland switcheroo of 2022, review the fan theory about the change that would make for a brilliant plot twist. Then, quick, take a peek at the show’s gorgeous cast portraits for the year before we have to update them again. They’re in the below photo gallery.
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>Isn’t that right, Jack (Peter Bergman)? He’s a playboy leaning hard into his new role of family man.</p>
Image: CBS
2/33
<p>You can’t keep a good woman down — or a bad one, either. Take it from the “late” Diane (Susan Walters).</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
3/33
<p>Billy (Jason Thompson) and Lily (Christel Khalil) are so right for each other, their names even rhyme. C’mon!</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
4/33
<p>If Victoria (Amelia Heinle) turned the other cheek, it would be every bit as lovely.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
5/33
<p>Be careful where you aim that disarming gaze, Ashland (Richard Burgi); charm-proof vests are hard to come by in Genoa City.</p>
Image: CBS
6/33
<p>During February sweeps, Ashland underwent an extreme makeover, one that transformed him into Robert Newman, previously Josh on <em>Guiding Light.</em></p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
7/33
<p>Reformed baddies Michael (Christian Jules LeBlanc) and Lauren (Tracey E. Bregman) have made good. So why do they always look like they have mischief in mind?</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
8/33
<p>We don’t have to get it as long as Kevin (Greg Rikaart) and Chloe (Elizabeth Hendrickson) do. That said, we get it, guys. We totally get it.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
9/33
<p>Then again, when <em>isn’t</em> the irrepressible Gloria (Judith Chapman) prepared to shine? She’s a showstopper whether or not there’s a show going on to be stopped!</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
10/33
<p>If Mariah (Camryn Grimes) and Tessa (Cait Fairbanks) were a book, they’d be a page-turner that we couldn’t put down.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
11/33
<p>Glorious lighting’s not required to make Sharon (Sharon Case) sparkle. Though, obviously, no one’s gonna say no to lighting <em>this</em> fantastic. Let’s be real.</p>
Image: CBS
12/33
<p>It wasn’t easy being a good guy like Sharon’s ill-fated husband (Jordi Vilasuso) in a town like Genoa City, where everyone’s favorite pastime is bending the truth until it snaps.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
13/33
<p>Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) are as kaput as a couple that’s called it quits a gazillion times before ever really <em>can</em> be. In other words, probably not very kaput at all.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
14/33
<p>When Nick and Sharon’s prodigal son returned, he had a new face (that of Rory Gibson) and the same old amazing jean jacket. Er, the same old amazing <em>genes</em>. We meant genes.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>Thanks to Jack’s surprise granddaughter Allie (Kelsey Wang), the Abbott family tree has sprouted a new branch.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI (3)
16/33
<p>… here’s Kyle (Michael Mealor) <em>three</em>-faced — and each mug as handsome as the last. The Abbott heir is the result of, ahem, “a little ditty about Jack and Diane,” as John Mellencamp might put it.</p>
Image: Christian Delfino
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<p>… we’d soon get reacquainted with Kyle’s bride, Summer (Allison Lanier), whose parents both have a past with her mother-in-law: Nick slept with Diane, and Phyllis slapped with her!</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>… it’s gonna be a bumpy ride anytime Jill (Jess Walton) is in town. We might even go so far as to get our sofa equipped with shock absorbers.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
19/33
<p>Oh, we know, we know, it’s been ages since Jill’s frenemy Esther (Kate Linder) was actually Mrs. C’s housekeeper. Didn’t mean to ruffle anyone’s feather duster.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
20/33
<p>Actually, this is Chance (Conner Floyd), who came home from being presumed dead… how to put this, hmm… a new man. On the plus side, he also came home a crazy handsome man.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
21/33
<p>Ashley (Eileen Davidson) is there for daughter Abby (Melissa Ordway) every step of the way. Whether Abby wants her to be or not. You understand — you have a mom.</p>
Image: CBS
22/33
<p>Novelist Traci (Beth Maitland) probably knows that the pen is mightier than the sword. But the heart and soul of Genoa City is way to sweet to ever jab you with either one.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
23/33
<p><em>The</em> catch of Genoa City has got to be Devon (Bryton James), the rare hunk who is as rich as he is attractive. Well, that’s not <em>so</em> rare in Genoa City, but you know what we mean. He has it going on.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
24/33
<p>Hardly. Amanda (Mishael Morgan) is entirely her own woman… who just happens to have the exact same features as her late sister. What? It could happen!</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
25/33
<p>Eh, not necessarily where Naya (Ptosha Storey) is concerned. Unless the question is “How do ya take a stunning photo?” Then, by all means, Amanda’s mom is your go-to.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
26/33
<p>Well, he isn’t technically <em>so</em> new. Moses (Jacob Aaron Gaines) was born to Neil and Sofia all the way back in 2011. Wait, doesn’t that mean he should only be 11 years old? SORAS strikes again!</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
27/33
<p>When he’s not actually treating patients, Nate (Sean Dominic) plays doctor with Elena (Brytni Sarpy). Which pretty much exhausts our knowledge of medical puns. Unless you wanna get into the palpitations their smoochie scenes give us.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>Yep, any scene is made more interesting by the arrival of Amanda’s pot-stirring sister (Leigh-Ann Rose).</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
29/33
<p>Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) keeps as many unhatched plots in her purse as we do forgotten bank slips and Chiclets. Yes, the Chiclets are extremely old. Whatever you do, don’t swallow them — or, for that matter, Chelsea’s lies.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
30/33
<p>There’s nothing going on between Sally (Courtney Hope) and Adam (Mark Grossman) the same way there was nothing going on between Antony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, Bogie and Bacall… You get the idea.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>Omnipotent Victor (Eric Braeden) is not one to be trifled with. In fact, he’s so formidable, we wouldn’t even risk serving him a trifle for dessert. Best to play it safe with the Black Knight.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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