Days of our Lives fan-favorite Brandon Barash revealed the shocker that he was fired from the Peacock soap opera. His character Stefan DiMera exits on Monday, October 28th. Barash confirmed Stefan exits next week – looks like as the week begins, his tenure ends on the soap.
He revealed he was fired despite being in the middle of a contract. And it was the writers’ choice to axe him. Just after Barash filmed the bittersweet scene with actress Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez), he was notified. If you recall, it was in the aftermath of crazy Connie’s bomb plot.
Stefan brought flowers to Gabi at the hospital. And they talked about saving their marriage. So, Brandon felt good about his work. Then, the Stefan actor said he was called into Janet Drucker’s office. And he knew what would happen.
Janet’s an executive producer at Days of our Lives. He said the firing shocked him and hurt his ego. But Barash said he was also excited about the future and what’s next for him. And he thought the universe was telling him Days of our Lives was not where he was meant to be.
Days of our Lives: Brandon Barash Fired as Stefan DiMera – Exits on Monday as Kidnap Victim
Brandon Barash wrapped filming as Stefan DiMera the first week of March 2024. And despite being blindsided by his firing, he’s glad he got to spend most of his son’s first year with him because he got axes.
Similarly, Barash left General Hospital before his daughter’s birth. But he said that was his choice, where this situation with Days of our Lives was not – they just fired him. Still, he’s thankful for all the memories made at home with his family.
Barash’s daughter, Harper Rose, he shares with ex-wife, General Hospital actress Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones). And his one-year-old son, Joaquin, he shares with current wife Isa Barash. Like the devoted father he is, Brandon says being a dad is his most important role.
Brandon is sad to leave the storylines between Stefan, Gabi, and EJ DiMera (Daniel Feuerriegel). And felt they were heading somewhere interesting on Days of our Lives. Both Cherie Jimemenz and Feuerriegel were unhappy about Barash’s suddenly leaving.
DOOL: Barash Blindsided by Firing – Thankful for Family Time with Isa, Harper & Joaquin
It doesn’t seem likely Brandon Barash would return to Days of our Lives. In part because he says it’s the second time he has been let go from the soap mid-contract. Barash said for him to come back, the story and contract would have to be “very, very right.”
He’s lost confidence in the show’s team. Brandon said in business, like in marriage, there has to be trust. You have to know when things get rough, they stick with you. He said with a TV show like this, they didn’t know what to do with his character, but knew he just had a kid, and just wrote him out.
So, he no longer has that trust with them. Since his firing, the writing team has changed and Ron Carlivati is gone from Days of our Lives. But it’s unclear whether Carlivati was the decision-maker behind this firing or not.
Stefan DiMera’s exit began on Friday October 25th. That’s when a masked man drugged Stefan. He’d ripped up his divorce papers after deciding to fight for Gabi. Stefan’s drugged and left unconscious on the sofa.
Then, on Monday, Stefan’s mother, Vivian Alamain (Louise Sorel), stops Gabi at the door of the mansion. Vivian’s henchman Ivan Marais (Ivan G’Vera) drugged her son on her orders. And next week, Ivan shoves Stefan in the trunk of a car and he’s driven away. Never to be seen again – unless they recast the role – or can convince Brandon Barash to trust them again…
