Y&R: Major character return in the works? SPECULATION

[DeeeDee]

If your racist co-worker spit in your face you would discuss it too.

[Mr. Vixen]

There's no signs or evidence that it was racism though. It's VR's word against MS' word, and we have no real way of knowing what actually happened. And from what I've gathered, MS is close to Kristoff off-screen, so doesn't that debunk the "racism" argument?

[SFK]

The trouble that I, and the rest of us who this applies to, should have with this is that we were not there. I know what it's like for a company of actors to deem a castmate crazy, and I also know what it's like to see an actor misunderstood. For what it's worth, all actors I know are at least a tad eccentric. If you got more of them talking, this would be highly evident. A Strasser or a Rowell stands out because they are among the few willing to speak, to share, to fight. MTS cuts off her friend JC for a couple of years with no explanation then strikes it back up like nothing ever happened and she's not a little cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs? Let's be fair. Just because some people can keep their crazy on the low doesn't mean that it's not there. Also, people of different backgrounds express themselves differently and come from their own set of experiences so many cast and crew members may have been unfamiliar and uncomfortable with where VR was coming from.

[Mr. Vixen]

Oh, there are absolutely other "crazy" people. But Victoria Rowell just hasn't really done her public image many favors over the years. I'm not saying she's lying, as I have no idea what happens backstage at Y&R. But it grows tiresome to here about the same damn spit take 5-6 years after it happened. She's made her point many times, and I don't see what going around talking about it all the time is going to accomplish.

And the same goes for all daytime stars, of all races. I will be the first one to tell you I think Eric Braeden is an egotistical !@#$%^&*] in many respects. I've long since said he needs to shut up and play what's on the page. Same goes for people like Steve Burton, and Maurice Benard. So I don't want to here this "Vicki is called crazy cause she's black". She's called crazy because that's how it comes off. The issue is tired.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Oh, Melody is another one that's not very well-liked by many on the show. Part of that is her own doing.

You know for years she probably thought she was the HBIC when Ed Scott was there, but that definitely changed when he was fired the first time.

[Mr. Vixen]

Who is it that doesn't like her? I've always heard that her and EB don't get along, and everyone knows about her weird relationship with JC. But who else? I'm asking out of pure curiosity, not because I doubt what you're saying.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Melody once said [after Heather Tom left] that Sharon Case was her only real friend on set and the only one she truly trusts.

[Mr. Vixen]

I love that, considering how much Sharon/Nikki hate each other.

[SFK]

I hear what you're saying. "Crazy" isn't among the prevalent stereotypes that black people have to fight thankfully ( ), but my guess is that since fair and equal treatment for the black cast members has been such an important issue for VR, it's wrapped up in whatever "crazy" behavior she may have exhibitied and it's probably hard for some of her dissenters on the job to separate the two. I'm sure she's gotten her share of "angry black woman" labeling.

It's complicated, you know?

I think we all know nuts when we see it. And when more than a few people are saying it about a person, one may take pause. But what are the motives of the people who are saying it, what is their true relationship with the person in question?

Look at an all-black cast like that of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Will and Alfonso were quick to call JHW nuts, and when approached, Tatyana diplomatically addressed the issue. They certainly weren't calling this woman nuts because she's black. Maybe she was a little nuts, maybe they just didn't like what she was all about. All I can say is that I'm sure I would have had a definite opinion had I been there. But I wasn't.

[Mr. Vixen]

I definitely hear what you're saying. It is very complicated, you're right. Of course VR's ultimate goal is racial equality, and that's fantastic. I, and most people (presumably), support and applaud that 100%. It's the way she presents the issue that has people labeling her "crazy".

[Khan]

Thank you!

But why did it occur to MS to do that in a scene with a Black actress? That's my question.

[Vee]

I don't think Michelle Stafford is racist. I think she just has that Scientology thing going on where they think they own the world and have been told a few too many times how brilliant their choices are and that anyone else will just roll with the punches. This isn't even a Scientology thing, either - plenty of divas in soaps behave out of hand (Eric Braeden's demands, etc).

I think she has value to that show but like any other star, needs to be kept in line. Tony Geary.

[Mr. Vixen]

Why does it have to be about race, though? That's my question. As an actor, I've done spit takes before, including instances where it wasn't scripted but made sense in the context of the scene, so I asked to do it. Never did it, nor would it occur, to anyone involved that I suggested a spit take because the scene partner was African American. It's sad that we live in a world where we can't do anything without it being perceived the wrong way. Obviously, racism is a huge issue. But I highly doubt MS is racist nor did she think "Oh, let's spit on the black chick". That's a stretch.

[Vee]

I think she thought she was a big enough deal to get away with a "spontaneous choice" and that the rest of the production would just roll with it. That's all. I don't think it had anything to do with race, I think it had to do with ego. And possibly feeling threatened by Rowell's similar stature on the show.

[Mr. Vixen]

But she claims she did clear it with the production team before the scene rolled. Which makes this even less of a big deal, to me. Should she have cleared it specifically with Rowell? Probably. But like you said, I'm sure it was more of a "I think this is a good idea" thing than a "I'm going to spit on Vicki because she's black and I hate her."