A Case For Rape: Can Gabigail Really Consent To Sleeping With Stefan?!

Thanks to the Days of Our Lives (DOOL) promo, we now know that Chad finds “Abby” in bed with Stefan. But was this lovemaking or rape?

While Stefan (Tyler Christopher) is choosing to ignore Marlena’s (Deidre Hall) warning that Gabigail isn’t a real person but rather a facet of Abigail’s (Marci Miller) psyche, that doesn’t make him right. In fact, he’s still very, very wrong.

Gabigail has certainly protested and proclaimed that she’s in control, is a real person, and feeding that delusion certainly works to Stefan’s favor. He’s coveted his brother’s wife since he arrived in town and now being with her is finally a possibility.

But at what cost? Stefan is not a stupid character. He knows right from wrong but like his father before him, he’s allowing obsession to cloud his judgment. And while his feelings for Abby’s alter may be very real, it doesn’t make it right.

In fact, being with her is oh-so-wrong.

Everyone knows, including Stefan, that if Abigail were in her right mind, there’s no way she would consent to having sex with Stefan. Her heart is fully committed to her Chad (Billy Flynn), and there is no way she would stray – and certainly not with his half-brother.

Stefan certainly knows this, so to ignore Abigail’s true feelings to take advantage of the part of her (that isn’t even real) he can manipulate is definitely tantamount to rape and a charge would more than likely stand up in court. After all, he knows the truth – he just doesn’t care.

Needless to say, self-delusion isn’t going to be a good defense. It’s a shame DAYS is risking tarnishing what could have been a great character by having him commit such a horrible act.

Sure, he’s a DiMera and many of them do horrible things. But Stefan has tried to be honorable in some ways and held back from taking advantage for so long because deep down he knew it was wrong.

Will it be interesting for the audience to see how the show spins this and manages to keep this character around after it all comes out in the wash? Possibly, but will fans stick around to watch the aftermath – or will this act be a red line that has been crossed?

Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes.