The Young and the Restless star Eric Braeden reveals the reason he made a move to Beyond the Gates

The Young and the Restless characters crossing over to Beyond the Gates, first reported months ago, is happening! Now, Eric Braeden, who plays Victor, is sharing why he took part in the big event!

The Young and the Restless, Fairmont Crest

Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) is traveling from Genoa City to Fairmont Crest on CBS | Image: JPI

According to TV Insider, who spoke to Braeden, the crossover commences on Tuesday, June 9. Victor travels to Fairmont Crest, the coveted gated community home to the Dupree family, to reconnect with longtime pal Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis), whose political campaigns Victor supported for years.

Braeden, who teased his visit to Atlanta on social media the night before the news of the crossover was announced, said that Danielle Unger, CBS VP, current programming, asked him, too. The actor says he agreed because he likes and respects her. "Let's go," Braeden said.

Braeden says that everyone at BTG was wonderful. "They're really very warm, wonderful people, and that makes you feel good," he says.

Watch for lots of twists and big drama when Y&R visits Fairmont Crest. As Y&R viewers know, Braeden's been very busy in Genoa City as TV son Joshua Morrow (Nick) is tackling a drug addiction storyline.

Seperate Lives

Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) and Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) have squared off in the boardroom on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Victor's also dealing with marital conflict with his wife, Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott), who has been at odds with her husband over Victor's war with Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman).

"Victor doesn’t trust that she sees Jack Abbott to consult him, to commune with him," Braeden says. "He suspects they had something to do in the hotel room. Victor is pissed off about that, and she keeps on seeing Jack, so it’s a constant rubbing of salt in the wound."

Victor believes it's disingenuous for Nikki to act like everything is fine. Victor suspects something went down in that hotel room. "He has never been convinced otherwise," Braeden adds.

Braeden continues to share powerhouse scenes with Michelle Stafford, whose character, Phyllis, is determined to hang onto Victor's company, Newman Enterprises, which she has renamed after herself.

Braeden recounted Victor's time in the orphanage and being left there by his mother, Cora (Dorothy McGuire), when he was merely 7 years old. The actor says that being abandoned that way left a deep wound, but that has only made him stronger.

The actor raves about Y&R head writer Josh Griffith (who recently stepped away from his executive producer duties so he could focus on head writing, as first reported by Soap Central).

“One plays what one is given by the writers, so you really have to look at the writers for coming up with these storylines," Braeden says. The actor adds that it's up to the actors to interpret them. "That's all there is to it," he says.

The Young and the Restless and Beyond the Gates air weekdays on CBS and stream on Paramount Plus.