“Bullying is not okay, in any way,” Jimenez said of fans’ reaction to her casting.

Cherie Jiménez opens up about the rollercoaster ride of being elected days of our lives become.

“When I got the contract and found out I’d been auditioning for Gabi the whole time, I couldn’t believe it, because what are the chances?” Jiménez recently said woman’s world. She originally auditioned for the fiery role of Gabi Hernández 15 years ago, but it went to Camila Banús. After Banús walked away from the show, Jiménez was excited to finally take on the role, but some Days Fans were eager to express their disapproval.

“I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” Jimenez said. “I cried a lot at first. The fanbase was basically bullying me. People miss Camila and, although I tried to bring elements of her to the role, I am not Camila. I was being torn apart in so many different ways and people were coming over to do it. “It really hurt.”

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Banus announced his departure from the long-running soap opera after 13 years in May 2023. Almost as soon as Days elected Jiménez as his official replacement the following summer, comments began to pile up against Jiménez on various official threads. days of our lives social posts and on fan forums.

“Harassment is not okay, in any way,” Jiménez reflected. “And I choose to change the narrative and what I recognize. My life is very full. I am blessed. “I’m very grateful.”

She added that she is “proud of my work” on the show, that her “producers and bosses let me know that I have exceeded their expectations and now I have some fans. I would say it’s 50/50, so.” “I’m focusing on the viewers who are giving me a chance and showing me love.”

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Before DaysJiménez had appeared in individual episodes of series such as NCIS and pretty Little Liarsas well as dramas about child trafficking Angie: lost girls and Maya. She described the role in Days – which has been a constant on television since 1965 – as an opportunity for “stability in an industry where anything can happen.”

While Days As heads warm over the new Gabi, Jiménez is pointing to brighter days for the character, who was recently released from prison and reunited with her beloved cousin Javi (Al Calderón). “Viewers will see Gabi laugh and joke more. She’s just happier.”

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In addition to Jiménez, Days brought back Alison Sweeney to Salem this season as the irresistibly evil Sami Brady, but only for several episodes. Christine Clark also returns as Carrie Brady and Victoria Konefal returns as Ciara Weston.

new episodes of days of our lives broadcast every morning on Peacock.