Young & Restless Character Assassinated: What Are We Even Supposed to Think Now?

Our eyes were as wide as Lily’s while watching the May 14 episode of The Young and the Restless. As Jill explained why she had given all her power at Chancellor-Winters to Billy, all we could think was… how on earth is he not embarrassed as hell?!?

Mommy, for fear that Devon was going to push her son out of the company, had taken steps to ensure that that would be impossible. In essence, she’d said, “I know nobody likes my kid or wants to work with him, so I’m going to make you keep him around, anyway.” What are we even supposed to think now?

Billy has always been a nepo baby, but this twist takes his silver-spoon-fed privilege to a whole new level. He may not have seen the promotion coming, but he’s for sure not gonna let it go. And let’s see. In every cush job he’s ever had, he’s been an agent of chaos. How many of those gigs has he gotten in the first place that weren’t because he’s an Abbott? And what skill does he bring to the table except for a preternatural aptitude for smugness?

Wasn’t Billy at one point… fun? Likable? At this point, he is being written in such a way that his mantra might as well be “I exist, and therefore, I deserve.” It’s not a good look for him or anyone. And, as with so many things these days on The Young and the Restless, it doesn’t have to be that way.

More: Oh, Summer, what have you done?

Jason Thompson can charm the paint off a wall. So why is his character being, in essence, assassinated? Instead of allowing Billy to be the life of the party, whether or not a party is even going on, the show is making him the face of self-satisfaction. He’s not confident or cocky, he’s obnoxious. I’ve been fired by people with whom I’d rather work than Billy Abbott.

And the poor little rich boy has no shame, either. It’s nuttier than Ashley’s alters! We’d be hanging our heads if, rather than earn a corner office through hard work or productivity, Mommy had gotten it for us simply by waving her magic wand. But Billy? Nope. He’s gonna strut around like he’s finally gotten the respect that, at least in his mind, he deserves. Blech.