Y&R Star Eric Braeden Speaks Out On Loving The U.S. and Democracy

On The Young and the Restless, Victor Newman loves power and his family. However, in real life, his portrayer Eric Braeden is more nuanced. For the July 4th holiday, the actor spoke out about loving his country but hating the gun violence that plagues the nation.

Eric Braeden Speaks Out

The actor took to Facebook to relay his Independence Day message, and it wasn’t all roses, but he did manage to offer some hope and possible solutions.

“To all my friends, I wish I could say ‘ have a happy 4th’! In light of the tragedy in ILL, it’s difficult to feel ‘happy’! I love this country! But we’ll only strengthen our democracy if we live free of fear, free of paranoia! The more fear, the more guns, the more deaths!” wrote Braeden, who escaped Germany during World War II.

“Let us celebrate our differences in opinions, culture, ethnicities, let us celebrate the promise of AMERICA; let us not succumb to fear mongering & the rule of a minority!” he continued. “If we continue allowing people to buy high powered guns, we’ll have more and more mass shootings! As simple as that!! A minority in Congress is allowing this bec they r beholden to gun lobby! As simple as that NO SENSIBLE PERSON WANTS anyone other than cops &military to have them!

“A democracy survives when there’s a free exchange of ideas and opinions,” he continued, adding “not when it lives under the oppressive feeling of paranoia, constant fear of ‘the other’! Raised as a CHRISTIAN, I learned about universal love & acceptance, not exclusion & paranoia!”

Many fans responded to Eric Braeden with heartfelt words of agreement. They praised him for his wise words and love of this country.

The Young and the Restless (YR) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Genoa City, check out all the latest that’s been posted on Y&R spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.

For more about what’s happening on your favorite soaps, join the conversation over on our Facebook Page, check out our Twitter feed, or look for an update on our Instagram stories. See you over there!