Young and the Restless‘ Richard Burgi Explains Ouster: ‘I Inadvertently Violated the Show’s COVID Policy’
Richard Burgi has cleared up much confusion stemming from The Young and the Restless‘ sudden recast of the character of Ashland Locke, with Guiding Light alum Robert Newman (who will make his debut in February).
“I just want to set the record straight,” Burgi said in an Instagram Story posted late Tuesday. “My wife had said something about it being the show’s choice, which is true, but the reality is that I naively and inadvertently violated the show’s COVID policy.”
Burgi went on to share that he had tested positive over the Christmas break, while visiting family back East. He said he then “took the necessary five days [of isolation] the CDC had recommended, came back, and then tested twice negatively at the studio… and showed up to work, but it was not within the show’s guidelines, which [calls for] a 10-day [isolation] protocol. So I inadvertently violated the show’s COVID rules and protocols.
“I felt terrible about it, I still do,” he continued. “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. 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 a great, great cast. It’s an amazing show, I have nothing but good memories and good wishes for it.”
Sony Pictures TV had no comment on Burgi’s exit, while sources confirm his account above as being accurate.
Wow
That seems kinda harsh doesn’t it?
Agreed. These shows and networks are gonna burn bridges even with the vaccinated. And I say this as somebody who is happily triple vaccinated and wears my mask in public (reluctantly, but voluntarily lol)
Like, I went to a play recently and you had to show you were vaccinated. They weren’t prepared for vaccinations on apps. Then they yelled at people to mask up who were standing near the bar drinking the drinks THEY SOLD US. Very inconsistent. I’m all for safety and I vowed to not return to that venue (which I used to go to all the time pre Covid) until they relax their policies
Well as a business owner myself, networks, shows, venues need to think of the safety of all not just some. Yes, it can be annoying, bothersome, confusing, etc. but they unfortunately can only do what is deemed safe. It’s not easy for us either. We know we can lose customers and money. But considering how many people before all this thought money was all some businesses cared about, maybe just try….try to take a step back & think would you rather they thought about lives or money first?
I was told it was deadly, highly contagious, that we couldn’t go on without vaccines and that we wouldn’t get infected if we did. I was finally informed that it was here to stay and that when I (we) have done all we can…to go on living and thriving. That was several decades ago and it was the flu. So when do we stop cowering in a corner and get on with living cause it looks like this is here to stay too!
Right on!!!
You can do as you like, just don’t kiss anyone during your SAG contract without following their rules, and expect to keep your job.
I don’t like the storyline he is coming into being Victoria’s husband. She will do anything to get what she wants. Steps on her brothe rs and Dad to get what she wants..
Way harsh, Tai. I’m pro-vaccine and pro-mask and whatnot but even I feel bad for him.
BTW, pro-mask doesn’t mean I enjoy wearing it. Just ask my mask-ne acne jawline. 🤣🤣
He knew the protocol, and did not check to see if it had changed to the new CDC guidelines.
Protocol is constantly changing pretty much with CDC direction to whatever the least amount of time is, the problem w as cds changed it during a holiday week. More than likely jan3rd forward the company is following the new direction
Once he told them he had covid. They (CBS) should have sent him the protocol calls or reminded the staff again. They change Covid-19 protocol and procedures and the states and cities don’t keep things straight. Teachers and others are exposed to this 5 days a week in schools. They don’t tell us who’s vaccinated or not. I have covid and they asK me if I wanted d to stay home for 5 or 10 days and it was 14 days. Confusing because I may get it again but hope NOT. SO PLEASE KEEP HIM. BURGI
don’t watch young and restless any more. Harsh that they did to him. He was perfect for the part
Yep, he was probably too strong, he was great and they needed him.
I have a lot of respect for how he’s come out and explained what happened and that he doesn’t seem to have any ill will to the show for their decision. Seems like a classy response to losing your job.
It does seem like it may be a bit harsh and maybe it’s easier to make the decision when it’s not a vet character etc. But I understand that they’re being extra cautious and I’d guess that they’re just enforcing their own rules.
If they let Danny Boaz go, they had to let him go. Same over at G H.
Can’t keep one and not the other.
Plus, we as humans tend to minimize our own culpability and present our failings/failure in the BEST POSSIBLE LIGHT.
.
So, him taking the blame is admirable, but I doubt he’s fully laid out his own culpability. IDK what else was at play here, but SOMETHING else was probably at play here.
Should not have let anyone go.
Danny Boaz wasn’t fired for covid, he is a vocal conservative and poor poor Hollywood can’t get it that basement Biden is a looser. Watch your facts.
Facts don’t matter??
Loved Danny Boaz.. sad they let Richard Bu=gi go, love him too, perfect for the part.
I remember Robert Newsome as Josh Lewis in Guiding Light, loved Josh and Reva. I hope the story line carries on. But too many changes for dumb reasons.
I agree he was perfect for the part. Love him.
wish they hadn’t done that to him. I have been watching young and restless since the beginning but after that I stopped watching. That was harsh very harsh. I knew the vaccine was not a cure even if Fauchi was saying it was. I knew they were all lying.
That is sad to see but this isn’t just the show’s rules but is the rules the SAG and other unions agreed to with all the US studios so all shows and movies have to abide by this while these rules are in place. I really loved his version of Ashland and again sad how this played out but there’s nothing either side could do as that now is a consequence. I loved Robert on “GL” too so will be nice seeing him again.
Classy. I have much respect for people who make mistakes, own up to them and accept the consequences. Not many people do.
Same.
I think CBS was too quick to let Burgos go. He’s done an awesome job on Y&R and should come back. The viewers do not like their shows to be recast!
Jack is a recast, Jill is a recast, Nikki, Sharon, Adam, Noah, Billy, Faith, Abby, Chance…at least half of the current cast are recasts. Give “Josh Lewis” a chance.
Totally he’s an awesome actor , and might I ad very easy on the eyes. Welcome aboard.
I going to have to start watching Y&R again. I’m a old GL watcher. Love Lewis. Can’t wait.
I was so happy to see who shall replace BURGIS.
Nikki and Sharon Along with Victor and Nickolas, are not recasts.
Nikki is a recast. Check the history.
I just checked, Nikki is original.
They need to make Robert Newman look younger to fit the part. I used to watch him on GL, didn’t recognize him now.
I’ve watched Y&R since it was a half hour show in 1972. Now I really don’t like the Mariah/Tessa storyline or Sally Spectra so I sadly may stop watching after all these years.
Correction – I checked again, different source. Nikki was played by Erica Hope for a short time at first.
What you read on internet is not always right. That’s why I looked again.
Anytime Sally Spectra comes on the screen I ditch out, or look at my email. Can’t stand the character.
Nikki and Sharon were both recast twice before the MTS and SC stayed in the roles.
The actresses that are playing Nikki and Sharon are Not the Original Nikki and Sharon. That is the original actors that play Victor and Aged Nicholas.
New Ashland does not look like Victorias type. He looks too old, and old fashioned, they seem opposites of each other. No chemistry, poor Victoria!
Nikki and Sharon are recasts? I don’t remember anyone else playing those roles.
They have rules to follow…he’s going to be replaced by the best of early soap opera actors…Robert Newman was a one of the main characters in Guiding Light for years in fact for the duration of the many years of the show, just sorry that he has to play the role of a bad guy indeed Ashland is planning quite an overtake of the whole Newman company! Will really enjoy having Robert Newman aka Josh!
Amen this sucks and I don’t care for replacement at all!
I agree with Cindy! He was a force in that show! I LOVED Robert Newnan in zGuiding Kight but it is difficult to believe in another Ahland.Took me a whole yo deal with the changed Phyllis as well!
Follow the rules like everyone else…I WORKED FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS AND LIKE IT OR NOT I WENT BY THEIR RULES ..BETTER THAN WHINING AND COMPLAINING..JUST MAKES YOU LOOK IGNORANT..
But he wasn’t complaining. He was clearing up some confusion after his wife’s post.
I totally and completely agree..they recast when it seems just wrong for the character.
Burgi was the perfect Ashland..hate to see him go
or whining. But Mary gonna Mary.
He was not whining or complaining. If you read it, he takes responsibility for his actions. All he did was let fans know. Calm down!
If an actor can’t follow safety protocols when it comes to COVID, I don’t really have an issue with an actor losing his or her job.
The issue is he thought he followed CDC guidelines properly!
@ryan that really makes no difference and honestly isnt an excuse or a reason. Everyone at their job has rules relating to covid(or rules in general) that are at times stricter that the CDC or government rules and just because your following the cdc or the government’s rule your still expected to follow the rules at your job. At my job when working in the yard I’m expected to have a vest on for safety, just because the government says it’s ok to be in yard with it a vest doesnt mean I can ignore my companies rules and as ALWAYS is the case ignorance of the law(or in this case a rule) isnt an excuse and Burgi seems to understand that more than some fans.
He’s been on the show awhile,should have known the shows rules on that.
I feel like they should have followed up though. When he tested positive, they should have reinforced the guidelines. If their guidelines are going to differ from what’s publicly recommended by the CDC, I think it’s the least they can do.
He assumed he was following the protocols… you know what the old saying is about those who “ assume “.
The CDC guidelines don’t take actors needing to kiss other actors on the mouth into account. SAG has separate guidelines for a reason.
Wouldn’t the cast and crew have been told (possibly many times) about their 10 day isolation protocol? Mr. Burgi, who has been on the show for close to a year, I believe, should have been well apprised of the rules. Did he call, email, text the powers that be to tell them of the diagnosis? At which point they would remind him of the 10 day period, not five. I just feel there may be something more going on here, that there is more to this than Y&R is telling us. That being said, I’m very sad to see Richard leave. He was a huge asset to Y&R and someone I looked forward to watching on the show.
This is why I gave up on the young and the restless. Covid aside, they just recast too quickly and easily. It gets really annoying. I stopped watching a few years ago when in the time span of 4 months they had at least 4 recast. I gave up.
Seeing as this was a covid thing. They could’ve just “suspended” him for a bit. He was following cdc guidelines and tested negative twice so it’s not like the out ppl at risk. But since it violated the shows terms…a punishment would be understood. But firing? Wow.
Sorry for any typos. Currently sick and battling covid and not paying 100% attention to what i type
I hope you feel better soon.
If thr CDC changed to 5 day doesn’t that mean the show comply
There may be more to this than meets the eye. He did follow CDC guidelines and says he just made a mistake in violating the show guidelines. He’s not an anti-VAX’er and clearly wasn’t try to make any kind of statement. It’s hard to believe he would be outright fired over this. I have to wonder if there might be some other factors at play here.
It doesn’t matter what he did or didn’t do or whether the people who watch this show don’t like recasts, EVERY company/business has rules and requirements for employment. Once he broke the rules, whether intentional or not, he no longer was qualified for employment at that business. It’s not that hard to understand. It’s called consequences .
I can tell you from personal experience that large companies have a lot of discretion in enforcing these kind of rules. He did not violate any laws and his actions did not result in harm to the company or fellow employees. If they chose to enforce what was basically a technicality, it’s likely there were other factors involved.
I agree. More to the story.
I agree, there has to be more to it than coming back too soon. Seriously, you would think someone would have said, hey, yikes careful you are back too soon.. unless they did not realize he had Covid when they allowed him back on site.
Danny Boaz was also let go very quickly
Huge mistake. I have been watching for 40 years . This one really upsets me. As Burgi says … we are ALL trying to do our best, and so was he. Firing him for that reason is ridiculous.
I give up on Y & R after all these years.
I am joining your GOOD BYE Y&R
stupid storyline. Common, the Abby Chance storyline is a joke.
DONE
DONE
DONE
Nothing against the new guy but he looks more like a dad than a husband. Not a good fit! It will be uncomfortable to watch
Agreed. The new Ashland does not seem an appropriate fit as the previous actor. Beubg him back!!!
I’m very strict about COVID protocols, but I have to tell you, even this seems like it should get a pass. I know ignorance isn’t an excuse, but it seems like he thought he was doing the right process.
Oh man I like him he’s so good with Victoria
Doesn’t surprise me at all. Y&R is an absolute mess on all fronts. Giving the show a four year renewal was the worst possible thing that’s ever happened to it. TPTB have obviously given up even pretending to care about it and are just coasting at this point. There are no storylines, constant recasts and no respect or screen time for long time vets. Burgi and Donny Boaz (three Chances ago) were both incredible prime time grade actors who were both given the boot for asinine reasons. This show used to be as good as anything on the streamers today.
It’s always to be classy in the face of a departure. He did a wonderful job with the role and so nice of him to be gracious towards Robert Newman coming in. Can I say that I am beyond thrilled to have Robert Newman back on my daytime screen?
I appreciate his professionalism- it should pay off for him in dividends at some point.
I like Richard!
I have followed his career since he was on Desperate House Wives!!!
He has the chops to do this work!!!
I’m sick and tired of filming companies and other business venues let go such talent.
Is time to use JUDGEMENT of your fans and the rest of the country, that is NOT in government, encourage you to make your own choices!!!
NOT be governed!!!
Your loss!!!
I watched him since the Sentinel,lol.
A lot of people think this is harsh but I’m pretty sure the shows have to follow the strict guidelines. Their only freedom seems to be whether or not they demand zone A people get vaccinated. Everything else has to be followed or the show can be penalised. So it seems harsh but what the CDC says doesn’t mean the rules at work change.
I’m sure the rules will change but it seems to move slowly. Positive tests among vaccinated are disrupting filming so I wouldn’t be surprised if isolation period is shortened
Actors are a whole different ballgame,they have to kiss and hug their coworkers sometimes.
If he tested negative twice after having Covid I would assume that would be enough. I thought the CDC changed the time to quarantine from 10 to 5 days. I guess the show can choose the time period they want but still think it was wrong.
I don’t even watch this show, but if he truly did it by accident then why the firing? I get they need to keep people safe, but still seems a bit harsh…no warning? Just fired? It appears that no one is allowed to make a mistake anymore? WOW.
I am a die-hard fan of Y&R for over 30 years. This is a terrible mistake by CBS. How unforgiving & disappointing…
you tube showed y& R oldies and todays Y&r stinks in comparison. Que had Jill and Catherine wrestlng and gouging each other in the attic, one of many hair pullings…there was constant Drama in the cast they kept around. Danny Romalatti and Chushne-and other great pairs. made it great Now its s boring. Ahland should have paid the price for his past but they wimped him…. CDC is controlling soups now, too? It’s a show of Fiction and could have fur written in a script that he caught it.. B&B is the butter show, but getting as boring with Sheila who could have done a job on Brooke oon Ridge, they are wimping even Shiela out
Puton YouTube and see what we once had.
Come on guys he tested negative… So the fans gotta pay?? Bring Burgi back!
Somebody start a petition!!!
Very disappointed. Loved Burgi in the role of Ashland. If his account of the situation is accurate it seems the show is cutting off its nose to spite its face. Love the young and restless but lately it could use some different writers.
I watched Richard Burgi way back when he was on DAYS OF OUR LIVES and Kimberly was being played by Arianne Munker [while Patsy Peasy was having her 19th nervous breakdown] until the DAYS scribes wrote Kimberly off Salem [with minimal appearances by PP & CS since then] but I watched GUIDING LIGHT from late 1981 until GL’s cancellation in 2009. It will be nice to see Robert Newman again [he has been doing plays and TV episodes (“HEY! IT’S JOSH!”) since GL’s cancellation–as well as spending time with his grandson, Leo Robert–while getting ready to go back to CA, his home state, to start Y&R. While I like Richard Burgi and his gracious explanation of this terrible snafu, I love Robert Newman [I met him for 5 seconds at one of those Meet-n-Greet things for GL fans; the line was very long & people were a bit snappy a la Ralphie in A CHRISTMAS STORY–“Come ON, KEEP GOING!” but he was very nice]–so this Y&R thing seems promising.
TPTB at Young & Restless absolutely should have strictly enforced their own Covid policies and they made the correct decision in replacing Burgi with a new (very well known/respected) daytime actor. A lot of melodramatic fans only care about FICTIONAL characters and storylines but give little thought to the health and safety of REAL people in the cast and crew.