While the Days of Our Lives fans knew that Arianne Zucker’s Nicole would be exiting Salem, they were somewhat surprised when Greg Vaughan’s Eric went with her. We know there was some controversy regarding Zucker’s untimely departure, and now we know why Vaughan left the sudser as well.
Eric’s Absence Is Not Permanent
Greg Vaughan revealed some interesting tidbits about leaving DAYS in a now-defunct Instagram story. The first post was a video with a black screen and white text that stated, “I didn’t leave by choice, I never had a choice,” with a broken heart emoji at the end.
The next post was a screenshot from Soap Opera Digest’s Comings and Goings page from July 29 that listed Zucker as “going,” with a quote from her praising her co-workers and crediting them for her success on the show. The bottom half of the image listed Vaughan as “staying” and wrote that even though Eric and Nicole moved to Paris, Vaughan would eventually return to his most famous role. But what he exactly meant by not having a choice is still a mystery. Was he forced out of the show? Did he tell the powers that be that if Zucker walked then he would as well?
SOD shared that link on Instagram, with many fans unhappy about the announcement but found some solace in the fact that at least Vaughan would eventually be returning. The actor had previously played Lucky Spencer on General Hospital from 2003 to 2009, and one fan responded, “Wait…. It’s not to play Lucky, JJ is back!!!! Ooooh this is gonna be good!!!! Lol. I did love Greg as Lucky,” while another followed that up with, “He can’t be going back to GH to play Lucky if the og Lucky is coming back…” The conversation revolved around the fact that Jonathan Jackson is set to reprise his role as Lucky, which he originated soon.
Departure Was Rushed
Eric and Nicole finally got the happy ending that fans were looking for, although they had to leave Salem to get it. They had been embroiled in a complicated baby switch storyline, but in the end, Eric found out he was baby Jude’s (Oliver McLarty) father, which is something the character has wanted for years (and had been repeated on the show ad nauseam since the baby was conceived). In an interview with Michael Fairman TV in December 2023, Vaughan explained that the writers “Were determined to make Eric a father.”
With everyone and their uncle in Salem knowing that Nicole and Eric were each other’s one true love, it was only a matter of time before they were reunited. Zucker addressed Nicole’s exit on the Miss Understood podcast, explaining that it seemed as if the writers wrote Eric and Nicole’s final scenes with haste, but ultimately, she was happy with the outcome.
We hope to see Vaughan back soon and, hopefully, Zucker again in the future!
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