Comings & Goings: The Young and the Restless star Jermaine Rivers confirms his exit after Damian's stabbing

In a shocking twist on The Young and the Restless, Damian, played by Jermaine Rivers, was both drugged and stabbed on Monday's episode. Now, Rivers is speaking out as he confirms that his time on Y&R has come to an end.

The Young and the Restless, murder, he wrote

"Whoo! What an episode. What an episode," Rivers began a social media post on Instagram. "Yeah, that's what it is, at least for now, Damian Kane has met an untimely demise."

While viewers learned today that Kane was drugged and stabbed, the previews that have Chance (Conner Floyd) grimly investigating a crime supported the fact that Damian was indeed a goner. Rivers said he knew as early as April that his run in Genoa City (or Nice, France, depending on your perspective) was coming to a conclusion. Poor Damian died just as his romance with Lily (Christel Khalil) was taking form.

"First off, I've got to say, 'thank you,' to Josh Griffith," Rivers says of the show's executive producer/head writer, "for giving me this opportunity to bring Damian Kane to life. It has been an amazing ride. It'd been an honor to be a part of that cast but to [also] bring a character like Damian to life...for the last 7 to 8 months."

He ain't heavy, he's my (half) brother

Rivers says he enjoyed playing a multitude of emotions as he showed who Damian was, and how his complex relationships with his mother, Amy (Valarie Pettiford), and half-brother Nate (Sean Dominic) played out.

Alas, Nate wasn't a part of the contingent that went to France. If he had, perhaps the ex-doctor might have saved his half-brother. Still, the two men shared some nice sentiments on River's social post. "Brother. It was an honor and a pleasure to share the screen with you," Dominic wrote on Rivers's Instagram account. "You will definitely be missed, but I know you got 10 other projects already in the works, so keep going, brotha! Looking forward to working together again!

"Thanks, Bro!! It was an absolute pleasure and honor working with you as well," Rivers responded to his The Young and the Restless co-star. "Much luv to you and the fam🙌🏾."

"We got to go on a ride," Rivers continues. "And really play into these moments truthfully." The actor says that he has multiple objectives when he takes on a role. "To be of service to the script," the devoted actor says, "to the text that's actually written for the character and his relationships with other characters on the show, to not phone [in] anything and to really engage and be honest, truthful and make a genuine connection, bring out the best of that person that's in front of me."

Final thoughts

Rivers believes that it's the story that matters the most. "Because at the end of the day, guys, it's not about me," the actor muses. "It's not about one person on the show. It's about the collective. I'm just grateful to have been able to play a role on the show, to be a part of the cast, no matter how long or how brief it is."

Rivers is also giving out a shoutout to his agent, and Greg Salmon, casting director, Y&R. "Thank you," he says.

What's next for the actor? Rivers shared, "There's a whole lot of stuff that has my name on it right now that I'm currently attached to, and I'm physically and mentally getting ready to do something super fun in the sci-fi genre."

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No matter what comes next, Rivers says his experience on The Young and the Restless won't be forgotten anytime soon. "I loved every minute of showing up to [work], getting to play alongside some incredible, talented actors," he says. "To the fans, thank you for the fans who tuned in, who are always committed and invested in the storyline that's been played out day after day. I'm going to close this out with light, love, and gratitude in my heart. Till the next one! Peace and love."

Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus

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