Days of Our Lives Stuns Viewers by Firing Four Popular Castmembers

DOOL shocks viewers

Days of Our Lives has a major shakeup coming. The changes will not be seen until late 2026 or early 2027, but the ramifications will be felt for some time. Two beloved couples will be leaving Salem, which means four popular castmembers have been axed.

Carson Boatman (Johnny DiMera), Raven Bowens (Chanel Dimera), Ashley Puzemis (Holly Jonas, and Leo Howard ( Tate Black) have been fired.

Bowens debuted as Chanel in March 2021 after she was tapped to succeed Precious Way. Boatman arrived in Salem in August of that year. Puzemis has portrayed Holly since October 2023. In April 2024, Leo Howard was recast for Jamie Martin Mann.

DOOL did not explain the decision

Days of Our Lives does not comment on cast changes, but Soap Opera Digest reports they gave this statement.

While we don’t comment on individual contracts or casting decisions, we have tremendous respect and appreciation for the actors who bring these characters to life. What may seem sudden is part of long-range storytelling decisions. Our goal is to balance the show’s rich history with where we’re headed creatively. Due to our long tape-to-air gap, any changes won’t be on screen for some time.”

Fans have noticed these two popular couples have been boxed into a corner for a while. Holly and Tate are in college, and the Peacock soap is not going to utilize college campus sets for the long-term, as they never have in the past.

Popular characters needed better writing

Now that the truth has been revealed about Little T, Tate and Holly don't have any connections with other current storylines. Johnny and Chanel are settling in with their new son and dealing with the news that she is expecting.

Neither of them is connected to storylines outside of their personal situation, so they don't have much to add at this time. Some Days fans are wondering about the fates of Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd) and Ari Horton (Melissa Reyes).

Now that Brady Black knows Sophia can talk and has been leaving the mental health facility she could be in big trouble. Without Holly and Tate around to torture she has no viable storyline.

Ari has become integrated into the lives of the Hernandez family, but without Holly and having no romantic interest, what future does she have in Salem?

Days used to have supercouples

Days of Our Lives brought in Peyton as Doug Williams III, but he was only around for a few months. After his departure, things began looking bleak for the other young adults in Salem.

Days current writers do not seem to be able to write storylines that keep young people on the canvas. They have a lot of drama, then become boring and disappear. Melissa Reeves (Jennifer Horton Devereaux) and Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams Brady) joined the soap as teens in the 1980s.

Their storylines blossomed into them being fan favorites and part of two of the most well-known and loved soap supercouples of all times, with Jack Devereaux (Matthew Ashford) and Bo Brady (Peter Reckel).

Better writing would have made the difference

Holly, Tate, Chanel, and Johnny could have had fantastic adventures with great storylines, with different writing. They might have become the supercouples of 2026, but the writers couldn't or wouldn't pull it off.

Chanel whines at every decision her husband makes, and Johnny does not have the backbone to stand up to her. Holly and Tate seem to have lost the magic that endeared them to the fans.

Best of luck to Holly Puzemis, Leo Hiward, Raven Bowens, and Carson Boatman in their future endeavors.