The Friday, August 6 episode of “The Young and the Restless” was huge for Skyle fans. After weeks of separation, Kyle Abbott and Summer Newman were reunited after Tara Locke (Elizabeth Leiner) and Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) got exposed for their dastardly deeds. Sadly, the happy reunion between the pair will be short-lived as we’re in the endgame for portrayers Hunter King and Michael Mealor, who are exiting the daytime drama series after both actors hit an impasse during contract negotiations with the soap.
When we last saw the couple, Kyle quickly flew to Italy to surprise Summer at her door, literally moments after finding out the truth about Tara and what she and Sally did to keep them apart. Upon opening her door, a shocked Summer sees Kyle, who tells her, “I’ve come to take you home” before he quickly embraces his lady love, and the two share a passionate reunion kiss. The scene ends, the episode fades to black, and the credits roll.
SPOILER ALERT: To find out where things go from here, scroll below.
On Monday, August 9, we pick things up the next day with the couple preparing to have a heart-to-heart with their parents – Nicholas and Phyllis (Joshua Morrow and Michelle Stafford) for Summer; Jack (Peter Bergman) for Kyle. Considering they’re thousands of miles away, it’ll be a virtual chat as the young couple explains their plans to live their lives in Milan, Italy, now that Summer has grown to love her new job regardless of how it came about, and Kyle is prepared to handle things at Jabot remotely.
As for Harrison (Kellen Enriquez), Kyle’s child with Tara, the two hope that Ashland Locke (Richard Burgi) will let the boy live with them permanently now that Tara is in jail for embezzlement. However, to be clear, she has yet to be convicted of the crime, and as far as they know, Ashland’s prognosis isn’t looking too good, which gives credence to their future housing plans for Harrison.
Happily reunited and a bright future to look forward to, Summer and Kyle’s decision doesn’t sit too well with everyone, particularly Summer’s mother, Phyllis, who isn’t too thrilled and does all she can to convince her daughter to come home. Setting up another virtual chat, this time with Summer by herself, Phyllis learns that her daughter will eventually come home but only for visits. An emotionally distraught Phyllis reminds Summer of the hell she went through to expose the truth about Tara and Sally, to which Summer appreciates but still sticks to her plans to remain in Italy. Sorry, Phyllis!
With Summer and Kyle’s decision made on-screen, it looks like the daytime drama series will officially be saying goodbye to the popular Skyle pairing for the foreseeable future, as plans to recast seem unlikely at this time.
Ever since it was announced that King and Mealor would be leaving the soap, only Mealor took to social media to confirm his exit, telling fans, “The last three and a half years has been a truly humbling and life changing experience. I wouldn’t have been here this long without your love!” Two days later, he posted a picture on Instagram of his newly shaved head. King has not posted anything “Y&R” related since Emmys week in June.
King joined “Y&R” as Summer Newman in 2012 before departing the soap in 2016. Returning in 2018, King would later be joined by Mealor as a recast Kyle Abbott.
As of this writing, producers at “The Young and the Restless” have yet to comment on reports of either actor’s exit or when the pair will officially last air on the soap.
Stay tuned to Soap Opera Network for the latest developments.