I wonder if he's having other issues aside from the show itself?

Jamey,

Thanks for posting this. The 5/22 Suds Report offers several intriguing items. Two items that particularly caught my eye were (1) Shemar Moore (Malcolm) mentioning he may return for a "sad" storyline later this year, and (2) Nelson promoting his future interview with MAB which will include her addressing why other gay characters (plural!) are coming to GC.

This certainly has been an exciting week onscreen and behind-the-scenes for Y&R.

I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Engen's portrayal as Adam. And his sexy chemistry with Vail Bloom, as Heather, made me tune back into a soap that, frankly, got on my nerves with all that Phick crap!

Here's hoping Mr. Engen has a successful future! And here's hoping Mr. Muhney makes his mark in the role of Adam!

This one leading man could be Eric Braeden. Sure would sound like him.
Like I said before and it's also written here, he is in a storyline any other actor would be proud of and he could have really become a soap star with this, but instead he walks out.

But good for Muhney. He can rock it now!

Sounds to me like Engen is struggling with his own sexuality.

I agree, Jamey, this is just sad. It seems like CE's Catholic background made him unhappy with all aspects of the storyline, not just the gay kiss/seduction. I know it's easy to get on him and say he needs to just shut up and act, but every actor has their own process. It seems like he took his character home with him and that took a toll on him. Then again, that might be the reason he was so good in the role -- because he took it so personally.

I don't believe the quoted leading man in Braeden cause he sure would not kiss another man. I think it's Peter Bergman.

I am curious to know if Steve Burton would be kiss a man on-screen? He can barely do love scenes with women.

I think Sonny and jason would be a hot couple.

I think Eric Braeden would do whatever a role required...maybe not as Victor Newman, but the man's a pro....

Chris, I hope you conquer your demons. You were terrific in the part while you lasted...

"The sad storyline referring to Malcolm's return"...Do they plan to kill him off? I know there was some talk of doing that years ago.

I wish him luck with his demons and hope he can overcome them and tell why he quit in the first place.

I actually feel for him. I hope he finds peace.

I hope he doesn't use that I'm Catholic excuse, I think I'm insulted. Us Catholics are in the 21 century. I believe, as well as my whole family and tons of my friends who are Catholic and many others, in women's right to choose and in gay marriage and rights. Sure some of us are stuck in the middle ages, but come on now. Everytime someone doesn't want to do something they say it's against their religious beliefs as a scape goat. Just like one of the Charitys' that was on Passions. I recall reading that she quite because her character was a witch and it was against her religious beliefs, but she ws playing that role for over a year. Please, she just wanted to get off the show. She's playing sluts now, I guess that's not against her religious beliefs. Whatever is this guys reason, it's dumb. Think of the material he was gonna get, an actors dream to get meaty stuff like that. Well, it's he's decision, I don't think it's that big of a deal. I guess gaslighting a pregnant women is not against his religious beliefs I gather. Funny how are beliefs only play out in stuff we don't wqnt to do.

ad-girl, good question. I don't think Steve Burton would ever kiss a man on screen.

This whole situation really is a shame. I was very much enjoying Chris Engen in this role and this story has me riveted. I am looking forward to seeing what Muhney brings to the role. But I truly hope Engen finds peace with his decision, career and life.

Im feeling For CE and that he works out all his issues. Sounds like his personal life may have effected his work life. Either way I wonder what MAB said to nelson about this, cause you know he asked.

I am personally sad he could not learn to seperate his beliefs from his work,but liberal goes both ways..it also means you have to understand and respect when someone believes something different from yourself. It sounds to me that Mr Egan had not been properly informed of what was coming ahead storyline wise for his self and made a decision based on what was best for him. I could see the second they announced that Rafe was gay where they were going with this,so maybe WE don't know how this was handled professionally on both sides. Chris Egan's portrayal of Victor Newman Jr. was riveting to me from minute one,and I hope in the future he is given another opportunity to champion a role he is more comfortable with. IMO that 'cast member comment' screams of PB. Isn't he the one who went public of his opinion that Victoria Rowell wasn't playing with a full deck? I love this show,but if you've been a fan long enough to realize pretty quick that there are things that go on behind the scenes at this show that 'appear' to be very grimy.jmo.

The producers of Y&R are idiotic. They should have made sure that CE had bought into the story before they went ahead with it. If he had been unwilling to do it, then replace him with a new actor before the Rafe/Adam relationship started up. Moreover, is Adam seducing Rafe such an important plot point that it's worth alienating a talented actor?

ladyofthelake, you're a progressive Catholic who doesn't take her orders from the Church. What if Chris Engen is a conservative Catholic and honestly believes the Church is law? His view of his faith is just as valid as yours is. He's not saying that Y&R shouldn't do a gay story. His problem was in him being the one to do it.

At first I was pissed off at Engen for quitting but the more I think about it, the more sympathetic I am to him. He was in a lose-lose situation. Either he lets down the show or he lets down his own belief system. That's a terrible place for anyone to be in.

ladyofthelake, you had me rolling with laughter on the floor after I read your comment. "She's playing sluts now" that comment is priceless. Thank you, after a hard day i needed to read that!

The More I read I Feel CE had Personal issues that had nothing to do with what Adam was doing on-screen and he just walked. I hope he sortseverything out.

Ladyofthelake did u mean Kay instead of Charity I remember reading where she said something along the lines of religion of because Kay hands gushed blood she knew she hjad 2 quit

I do agree that they should of went to him, but the s/l is going full steam ahead and I am excited and hope that CE is doing other things and move on with his life, but I do think it is was something else that made him quit and I think that is his prerogative. I hope that he speak about what went wrong and wish him best with future endeavors. Hey, I can be sensitive to his thinking and wish him the best.

I wish Chris the best, but think he was very foolish to pull this type of a stunt on Y & R.

As for having outside issues, leave that mess outside. When you show up to work you are there to do a job, not wear your heart on your sleeve. He sounds like a very immature young man, who got a little too full of himself. Oh well, now he has all the time in the world to work out his issues. They need to pull a Missy Reeves on Chris and sue his sad ass.

I cannot wait to see what happens with Nu-Adam and Rafe. Victor is going to be rolling on the floor when this all plays out.

You know what? I'd let him walk, and not sue him. I wouldn't want an actor playing a role he didn't believe in. Anyone is replaceable. I feel bad for him because he quit when he was contractually bound to the show. His name and integrity aren't going to be worth much now — NO MATTER what his reasons were, you know? Who cares about the gay kiss — he's not going to act again for a long time. Hollywood has a very long memory. But it was his decision, so what can you say?

Suing Engen would just make Y&R look bad. They should just release from his contract. He's not going to work in Hollywood again anyway so what's point of going after him?

i don't think it's right to walk out on a job. i hope whatever it bothering CE gets straightened out. i do have to say if it was the storyline and he walked out on his principals then i give him my respect even if i disagree with his solution. it's like steve burton not doing a lot of shirtless scenes. i think part of that is out of respect for his wife and while i wish he'd shed the black t's more often, i give him respect of it. the question then becomes is he doing his job? or the one actor who left the role of lucas on GH when lucas was going to come out. that actor was already playing someone who was gay on desperate housewives and feared typecasting. will smith's refusal to do a same sex kiss in six degrees of separation later became a personal regret but did nothing to quell his career.

well as is this case, it could cost him in some way, but i think CE will be paying a much bigger price for a much longer time.

ad-girl I never said I didn't take my orders from my church and that I didn't believe my church was law. My religion is very seriouss to me and I follow it and respect it whole heartly. There are some things I might not agree with, sure. I do believe in the rights and freedom of people and all religions, as do many catholics. I never said that Chris Engen's view of the church, his personal beliefs were wrong or he had no right to believe in it. But using the 'my beliefs' as an out is a poor excuse. Maybe he should stick to just acting in christen productions then, if that was truly the reason he left. It isn't against religious beliefs to play a straight man who sleeps around, gaslighting people, or other countless bad stuff, but drawing the line at playing gay. Why is it okay to play certain parts, but playing gay wrong? If that was indeed the case why he left, then maybe he should stick to acting in christen productions. Who knows truly why he left, might be some other reasons. I just think religious beliefs is an easy way out for some people.

appleridge, you are most likely right. I never watched Passions but I recall reading an article and thinking it was odd and a bit funny that an actor would quite after a year or more in the role. Like she just realized what was up.

I doubt SONY would let this go away without any litigation. I would think TPTB would want to put everyone on notice that this kind of conduct will not be tolerated. Melissa Reeves was not spared the litigation route, and I doubt Mr. Engen would be either. TPTB will not want to make an exception in Mr. Engen's case because that would start precedent that other actors/employees can follow and use as their "get out of litigation free" card.

Sounds like Mr. Engen needs some psychiatric help post-haste. It may very well be the case that this man has his own sexual identity demons to face among many other problems.

I never wanted to see Rafe and Adam storyline go in that direction. I will definitely miss CE in the role.

Ladyofthelake, by your own description you are a progressive Catholic and you do not adhere to the faith in a literal way. I am not religious because I don't like being told what's right or wrong by someone else. But the Church's stance on homosexuality is clear. If you disagree with it, that's great, but you are not following the letter of the law. That's the difference between a progressive Catholic and a conservative Catholic. If Engen takes the pope as infallible and believes that homosexuality is a sin, then he would have a hard time kissing a man for many reasons. He might be afraid that he'll get turned on and he doesn't want to deal with that temptation. He might feel that he would be personally promoting homosexuality and that he would be in violation of his pope. I am not agreeing with Engen, I am just saying that the show put him in a very difficult place. They should have gotten him aboard from the start or they should have recast before the story was set in motion.

nice article Jamey. sincere genuine empathy, that's why we love you Jamey.

d.