Why The Bold and the Beautiful Hasn’t Named Sally Spectra’s Illness

Sally Spectra got some bad news from her doctor this week on The Bold and the Beautiful. And only Sally, her doctor, and her new pal Katie know just how bad it is.

Sally And Her Mystery Illness

The BB creative team made the creative choice to shoot the reading of Sally’s (Courtney Hope) diagnosis and her initial reaction from outside the office, preventing viewers from hearing the title of her (presumably) fatal illness. Naming the condition would potentially finalize Sally’s fate and also foster despair to who’s watching at home and may have the same illness.

“I see why [Sally’s specific condition] won’t be named, but I can see both reasons for doing so,” Hope recently told TV Insider. “Selfishly, I wanted to sink my teeth into something as an artist and to be an advocate for it, but I respect the decision not to do that.

“You want people to have outlets of hope and positivity. Ultimately, this story is about the fight that Sally is facing. She’s asking herself, ‘Do you take life by the reins and move on? Or do you just cash in your chips?'”

For now, Sally is hoping to keep her diagnosis a secret from everyone but her doctor and Katie. She especially doesn’t want Wyatt (Darin Brooks) to know, fearing he might respond to her out of sympathy.

“Pity has a huge thing to do with it,” the actress adds. “Sally’s so strong. But she’s been let down twice now by Wyatt. The last thing she wants is for him to be with her because [he thinks] she’s dying. The feelings wouldn’t be authentic.”

If Wyatt were to find out the truth and opt to dump Flo in order to return to Sally so he could give her some happy final days, he’d officially earn the title of “Wishy-Wishy Wyatt.” Plus, that’s not what Sally wants. Stay tuned to see what’s going to happen next. The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS. Check local listings for air times.