Victoria Rowell revisits claim that ‘Young and the Restless’ co-star spat in her face
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The actress says professional jealousy and alleged racial mistreatment contributed to her decision to leave the daytime soap after playing Drucilla Winters for years.
Victoria Rowell is revisiting one of the most disturbing moments she says she experienced during her years on “The Young and the Restless”: an on-set encounter in which co-star Michelle Stafford allegedly spat in her face.
During a recent interview with producer Carlos King, Rowell reflected on the tensions she says followed her throughout her time on the CBS soap. The 67-year-old actress played fan-favorite Drucilla Barber Winters from 1990 to 2007, earning three Daytime Emmy nominations and multiple NAACP Image Awards along the way.
According to People, Rowell previously alleged that Stafford spat on her during a scene, called her a “freak” and yelled that no one on the set liked her.
Stafford has disputed Rowell’s characterization of the incident. She has said the moment was intended as a comedic “spit take” performed by her character, Phyllis Summers, after Rowell’s character said something shocking. Stafford previously acknowledged that some of the water reached Rowell’s face but maintained that she did not intentionally spit on her co-star.
Rowell has maintained that she was not warned about the planned action. She previously recalled Stafford filling her mouth with water and spraying it onto her during the scene, leaving Rowell to find a way to dry herself before filming continued.
The actress has placed the encounter within what she described in a 2015 legal declaration as a larger pattern of racially charged mistreatment at the show. Her allegations included unequal treatment and hostility from colleagues as she advocated for greater representation of Black talent in front of and behind the camera.
In her conversation with King, Rowell also suggested that her growing success outside the soap created friction among some cast members. She said “Young and the Restless” co-creator William J. Bell openly supported her and allowed her to pursue other opportunities while remaining on the show.
“While they’re looking, I book a series myself over at CBS with my agent,” she said. “Then I book a series, and then Bill Bell—you know—they have to work it out.”
That other series was “Diagnosis: Murder,” where Rowell starred alongside Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Amanda Bentley, while continuing her work on “The Young and the Restless.”
Rowell recalled the logistical arrangement that allowed her to remain on both shows.
“It’s all CBS; it’s all family, let’s work it out,” she said, describing an arrangement in which she would work on one production before traveling to the other.
The workload was demanding enough to impress even Van Dyke. “Dick Van Dyke was like, ‘How do you remember all the words?’” Rowell recalled. Her answer was simple: “I love what I do.”
She also described using her growing influence to advocate for fellow actors. While visiting CBS primetime casting, Rowell said she would point casting executives toward colleagues from “The Young and the Restless.”
“I’m reading the script,” she recalled telling them. “And some of these roles, my colleagues on Young and the Restless are excellent actors. They could—would you consider them for this role?”
“That’s how I…” Rowell said, before adding, “And I did.”
Still, Rowell said she remained committed to doing her job.
When asked why she eventually walked away from “The Young and the Restless,” Rowell said she did not want to leave but reached a point where protecting herself had to come first.
“Enough is enough and too much is foolish,” she said, describing her departure as an act of “self-preservation and self-respect.”
Rowell sued CBS and Sony Pictures Television in 2015, alleging that she had been denied an opportunity to return to the soap in retaliation for her advocacy for Black actors, writers and other entertainment professionals. CBS denied her allegations, and the legal battle later ended in a settlement.