Emmy Who? Susan Seaforth Hayes Claps Back After ‘Days of Our Lives’ Snub

This year’s Daytime Emmy nominations sent shockwaves through the soap opera world, but not for the reasons you might expect. While Days of Our Lives racked up 13 nods, fans were quick to ask the burning question, where on Earth is Susan Seaforth Hayes? The legendary actress, who has been lighting up our screens as Julie Williams since 1968, was glaringly absent from the Lead Actress category. And now? She’s breaking her silence and let’s just say, she’s doing it with the grace of a queen and the sass of someone who knows she’s earned her crown.

A Snub Heard Around Salem

You don’t need to be a soap opera superfan to know that Susan Seaforth Hayes is television royalty. With a career spanning over five decades on Days of Our Lives, she is the only actress to appear on the show in seven different decades. Let that sink in. Seven. Not even your favorite coffee shop has lasted that long.

So when the 2025 Daytime Emmy nominations were announced and Susan’s name was nowhere to be found in the Lead Actress category, jaws hit the floor. Fans, fellow cast members, and industry insiders were baffled. She had delivered some of the most powerful scenes of her career this past year, including storylines that mirrored her real-life grief following the loss of her beloved husband and long-time co-star, Bill Hayes.

Susan Seaforth Hayes Speaks Out

In a world where some celebrities throw public tantrums over a missed nomination, Susan took a different route. She let her fans know that while the snub stung, she’s keeping it classy, with just enough shade to remind us why we adore her.

In an emotional Instagram post, she shared her history with the Emmys, reminiscing about co-hosting the first-ever Daytime Emmy Awards and her multiple past nominations. She also acknowledged receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award alongside her late husband in 2018. Talk about receipts.

But the real kicker? She suggested maybe she was just too good. Her performance, rooted in real-life grief, may have come off as too raw, too real. In her words, “Perhaps the judges felt I wasn’t acting.” Oof. Somebody hand the Academy some aloe for that burn.

Fans and Co-Stars Say “Justice for Julie”

It wasn’t just Susan who felt the sting. The soap world rallied around her like only loyal fans can. Social media lit up with outrage and heartfelt tributes. Amy Jean Shaughnessy, her assistant, called the snub “a shame,” pointing out that Susan’s submission included deeply emotional scenes that drew from her actual experience of losing Bill.

Her Days of Our Lives co-star Cherie Jimenez also chimed in, posting on social media that she found it “incredibly hard to believe” Susan wasn’t nominated, given her unforgettable work throughout the year. The message was loud and clear Susan Seaforth Hayes delivered Emmy-worthy performances, whether the voters recognized it or not.

The Real Award? Respect and Longevity

Susan doesn’t need another statue to validate her legendary status. She’s got something way better: the admiration of fans, the respect of her peers, and a legacy that no nomination list can take away.

At 81, she’s still slaying in a genre that’s chewed up and spit out talent for decades. She shows up, delivers powerhouse performances, and keeps Days of Our Lives alive with heart, grit, and a whole lot of flair. And her message to fans? She’s not going anywhere. “I will keep on keeping on,” she promised. And frankly, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Why This Snub Actually Matters

Beyond the drama, the snub of Susan Seaforth Hayes highlights a real issue in the entertainment industry, the undervaluing of veteran performers, especially women, who have given their lives to the craft. When someone who has shaped the very DNA of daytime television gets overlooked, it raises questions about what the awards are really rewarding.

Is it flash over substance? Popularity over legacy? Whatever the reason, Susan’s graceful response reminded us that her contributions can’t be measured by nominations alone.

Susan Seaforth Hayes Doesn’t Need an Emmy to Win

So what’s the takeaway here? Susan Seaforth Hayes may have been left off the Emmy ballot, but she’s front and center in the hearts of viewers who have followed her journey for decades. She handled the snub with wit, wisdom, and the quiet confidence of someone who knows exactly who she is and what she’s worth.

To the Academy, we say: Do better. To Susan, we say: Thank you for being an absolute queen of daytime. And to the fans? Keep celebrating the legends, even when the awards don’t.

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