Brayan Nicoletti as RJ – Worst B&B Casting?
Fans are buzzing — and not in a good way — after a casting decision that many believe completely missed the mark. Viewers can’t help but question how the powers that be looked at legacy families, decades of history, and deeply established dynamics, only to land on a choice that feels wildly disconnected. The reaction has been swift, emotional, and brutally honest, with longtime fans saying the recast simply doesn’t fit the DNA of the family.
What makes the backlash even stronger is that this isn’t the first time audiences have struggled to believe what they’re seeing. Previous versions of the character at least looked like they could plausibly share bloodlines, even if the performances didn’t fully land. This time, however, fans are openly asking how genetics, history, and emotional continuity were all ignored in one move. Unless the show is suddenly rewriting family resemblance logic entirely, the explanation just isn’t landing.
Even more troubling is how the character is being treated on screen. In recent previews, parental figures behave as if they’re meeting their own child for the first time, reinforcing a long-running criticism that legacy children are often forgotten until the plot needs them. That detachment only magnifies the awkwardness of the recast and makes the emotional beats feel hollow instead of heartfelt.
But the casting debate is only part of the problem. The character himself seems doomed by the very fabric of the canvas. As the offspring of two powerful, warring families, he’s connected to nearly everyone, which limits story options and pushes him into recycled plot traps. Fans still remember eras where similar dynamics crossed uncomfortable lines, and many are asking why the show would risk heading down that road again.
So why bring him back now? Some speculate he’s being positioned as a romantic complication, possibly stepping into a triangle that’s already on the brink of disaster. Others believe he’s meant to become the moral opposite of another rising male lead, setting the stage for a rivalry that eerily mirrors iconic feuds of the past. If that’s the case, history may not just repeat itself — it may consume another generation entirely.
This controversy has also reopened old wounds about recasting decisions across the genre. Even highly talented actors can feel wrong if their energy doesn’t match the emotional weight of a role. Fans point out that when a character carries decades of trauma, love, and loss, the actor must embody that history — not just recite it. When that alignment fails, it feels like an entirely new person wearing a familiar name.
Of course, when recasts work, they redefine characters forever. Some become so iconic that viewers forget anyone else ever played the role. But when they fail, the disconnect is impossible to ignore, pulling audiences out of the story instead of drawing them in deeper.
Now, viewers are left wondering whether this casting choice will settle with time or become another cautionary tale in soap history. Will the character grow into the role and win over skeptics, or will fan frustration continue to build until the storyline collapses under its own weight? One thing is clear — this debate isn’t going away anytime soon, and Genoa City may feel the fallout longer than anyone expected.