13-07-2025
Daytime Emmy Voters Slammed for Snubbing ‘Days of Our Lives' Legend
Daytime Emmy Voters Slammed for Snubbing 'Days of Our Lives' Legend originally appeared on Parade.
The Daytime Emmy nominations began to trickle out tonight as various outlets released different categories. When the list for 'Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series' was announced one name was missing and people are upset.
Days of Our Lives fans were expecting to see the legendary Susan Seaforth Hayes when the list was presented. The actress had an intense year as her husband Bill Hayes passed away. Something anyone would struggle with. The actress's experience was multiplied by the fact that Bill played her love interest on the Peacock streaming soap opera, so not only did she have to mourn the loss of her husband in real life, but also deal with his loss on the show.
As the announcements were being made, Amy Jean Shaughnessy took to social to say, 'I'm gonna have something to say if Susan Seaforth Hayes isn't nominated for a @DaytimeEmmys this year…..' A longtime Days of Our Lives fan and active social media user Steven asked Shaughnessy what category Hayes submitted for, as the actress could've submitted for either Lead or Supporting. The user asked, 'What category did she submit for? I need to know before I burn this place down.' To which Shaughnessy responded, 'We submitted her for Lead Actress, because this year's material was Lead Actress material.'
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After the nominations were released and Hayes name was nowhere to be seen, Shaugnessy posted a statement reacting to this snub. 'I watched up close and personal a woman witness the decline and death of the love of her life- a man she was married to for almost 50 years. A man she fell in love with on a beloved daytime soap opera 55 years ago.
She filmed a death scene with a body double 3 months after lying next to her actual husband in a hospice bed and saying goodbye to him.
We talked every morning during the week of filming about how to breathe, take breaks, and channel the real life emotions of grief and loss into her performance so she could reach fellow audience members who had lost loved ones.
NO one deserved a nomination this year more than Susan Seaforth Hayes for her absolutely brilliant performance processing and living through Bill Hayes' and Doug Williams' deaths.
She did what most actors never have to do; she exposed her soul and shared her real life grief with the entire daytime audience. It was raw, real, and MORE than worthy of an Emmy nomination.
Shame on you, Academy members, for not recognizing Susan Seaforth Hayes for her brave and exceptional performance.'
Shaugnessy confirmed that the content of Hayes reel included scenes from Doug's death and funeral.
Meanwhile her co-star Cherie Jimenez, who plays Gabi Hernandez, came to her defense as well, saying, 'No disrespect to all the incredibly talented women who are nominated, but I find it incredibly hard to believe that our Queen Susan Hayes was not nominated for her incredible performances this past year. With that said Congratulations to all these beautiful women 👏🏽'
Hayes had previously been nominated for Supporting actress twice (2018, 2020) and Lead Actress four times, (1975, 1976, 1978, and 1979). The actress received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 along with her late husband Bill Hayes in 2018.
In addition to Days of our Lives, Hayes previously played Joanna Manning on The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful as well as D.A. Patricia Steele on Sunset Beach.
The Daytime Emmy's will take place on October 17, 2025.
Daytime Emmy Voters Slammed for Snubbing 'Days of Our Lives' Legend first appeared on Parade on Jul 10, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
