Victoria Rowell is revisiting one of the most talked-about on-set disputes in daytime TV history. The actress, who played Drucilla Barber Winters on“The Young and the Restless”from 1990 to 2007, says co-star Michelle Stafford spat in her face during a scene. Stafford has pushed back, describing the moment as a comedic spit take and denying she intentionally spat on Rowell.
Rowell places the incident within a broader pattern of racially charged mistreatment she says she experienced on the show. She has also pointed to friction caused by her starring role on“Diagnosis: Murder”while still working on Y&R, and to her advocacy for Black actors. In 2015, she sued CBS and Sony. That legal battle ended in a settlement.
The story matters because it’s part of an ongoing conversation about how talent was treated behind the scenes in daytime television, and about who gets to define what happened on set. Two performers, one scene, and two very different accounts that likely won’t be resolved anytime soon. Do you think old set stories should be revisited, or left in the past?
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.