Soap fans know better than most that drama doesn’t always stay on screen. This week, The Bold and the Beautiful was rocked by a disturbing swirl of rumors surrounding Thorsten Kaye, the actor who has brilliantly portrayed Ridge Forrester since 2013. Whispers of an impending exit and even a fabricated cancer diagnosis sent shockwaves through the soap community, leaving loyal viewers fearing the worst for both the actor and the future of one of daytime television’s most pivotal characters.

But here’s the truth: the rumors are just that—rumors. Still, the damage has been done. Fans are left shaken, the cast blindsided, and the storyline possibilities around Ridge thrown into the spotlight once again.

The Rumor That Rocked Daytime
It began quietly, on Facebook and obscure gossip blogs, before spreading like wildfire across social media. “Thorston Kay,” one misinformed site claimed—misspelling the actor’s name—was allegedly battling liver cancer and preparing to leave The Bold and the Beautiful this September. The article hinted at a major shake-up in daytime’s most-watched soap, suggesting Ridge’s storyline was being fast-tracked to accommodate Kaye’s supposed departure.

For longtime fans who have seen beloved actors like John McCook (Eric Forrester) and Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke Logan) become synonymous with the Forrester family legacy, the thought of losing Ridge in such a tragic and abrupt manner was nothing short of devastating.

Producers Step In to Quash the Hoax
It didn’t take long for the rumors to reach the higher-ups at B&B. Supervising producer Casey Kasprzyk—well-known to fans for his behind-the-scenes insights—took to X (formerly Twitter) to put the speculation to rest. His message was blunt and furious:

“We never comment on rumors like this, but there’s one in particular about Thorsten Kaye that I’d like to state is completely false. Pure trash created for clicks and gossip.”

Kasprzyk’s response not only reassured fans that Kaye is healthy and very much still a part of the B&B family, but also highlighted the emotional harm reckless gossip can cause. According to Kasprzyk, the rumors were so widespread that fans—and even Kaye’s family members—were reaching out to him directly, panicked over the news.

The Toll on Fans
For viewers, the rumor was more than a minor inconvenience. Many fans who have followed Thorsten Kaye’s career since his days on Port Charles and All My Children were understandably shaken. After all, this isn’t the first time soap audiences have been blindsided by real-life tragedies. When stars like Jerry Douglas (John Abbott, Y&R) or Billy Miller (Billy Abbott, Y&R/GH) passed away, the grief was felt across the entire soap landscape.

That’s what made the false report about Kaye so cruel. It preyed on the very real bond between fans and the actors who bring their favorite characters to life. In Ridge Forrester, Kaye embodies not only the heir to the Forrester fashion dynasty but also a man caught between passion, loyalty, and power—a role central to B&B’s very DNA. The mere suggestion of losing him struck fear into the hearts of fans already bracing for storylines packed with betrayals, marriages, and rivalries.

Ridge Forrester’s Importance to B&B
Beyond the rumor itself lies a larger truth: Ridge Forrester remains one of the most crucial characters in The Bold and the Beautiful. His love story with Brooke Logan remains one of daytime television’s most enduring romances, fraught with betrayals, reconciliations, and rivalries that have kept fans glued to their screens for decades.

Thorsten Kaye’s Ridge has brought gravitas and emotional depth to the role since taking it on in 2013. Under his watch, Ridge has clashed with Bill Spencer, navigated complex family tensions with Steffy and Thomas, and tried time and again to balance his passion for Brooke with his loyalty to his family empire.