The Young and the Restless Recap, May 22: Patty seals Matt’s fate as Jack weaponizes Nikki’s pain

Here is your The Young and the Restless recap for Friday, May 22, 2026 featuring Patty selling out Matt and Jack manipulating Nikki.

What happened on The Young and the Restless

Nikki couldn't believe what Jack told her about Victor and Patty | Image: CBS

Nikki was shellshocked after learning of the lengths Victor went to in order to hurt Jack and his family. Jack's marriage was in shambles because of Patty being let loose on Jack. Having Patty drug Jack could've caused so many issues for Jack because of his past with addiction, but Victor didn't care. He wanted to destroy Jack.

Nikki was hopeful that Patty wasn't being entirely forthcoming. Everything in her wanted Patty to be to blame for the drugging, since that wasn't typically something Victor would've done. She was grasping at straws, but it was all she had left because the alternative was accepting that her husband was too far gone.

Nikki had tried everything in her power to get on the same page with Victor. He refused to take any accountability, even though Nick and his sobriety should take priority. Jack encouraged Nikki to find happiness, pointing her in the direction of visiting Summer in Milan. However, she didn't think it was the best time to leave Genoa City.

Jack surprised Nikki by offering to be Nick's official sponsor. Imagine Victor's reaction once he learns about that if Nick were to accept. His feud with Jack reignited in full force when Jack was involved in Nikki's sobriety journey, so the idea of Jack helping Nick might send The Mustache over the edge.

Jack noted that Nikki might find herself triggered by helping Nick through his addiction. It might bring up painful memories of her own past, and she might be tempted to struggle as well. He vowed to be there for both of them throughout the entire process.

Kyle returned to join Jack and Nikki, and she departed, so Kyle could spend some time alone with his father. Jack admitted to Kyle that he stretched the truth to Nikki about Victor being the one who paid Patty to drug him. He needed to lie to have the maximum impact and do the greatest amount of damage.

Kyle and Jack returned home and found flowers waiting for them that they hoped were from Diane. Unfortunately, they were from Patty, who was completely delusional about the fact that she might end up with Jack in the end. Jack played a dangerous game by allowing Patty close to him, and now he was paying the price.

Patty's petty plan

Patty just became Matt's biggest nightmare | Image: CBS

Patty and Matt casually sat on a park bench, discussing everything with Phyllis as if they wouldn't attract any attention. They were both loathed by the masses, so they probably shouldn't be so out in the open. Matt was still struggling with the idea of being betrayed by Phyllis after believing they shared a connection.

Matt's gut instinct betrayed him because he thought Phyllis was being genuine with him. Patty was clearly manipulating Matt, but he was so desperate to find something to hold on to that he was willing to go along with it, even if it didn't make any sense.

Patty wanted the opportunity to help Matt escape Genoa City, and all he needed to do was trust that she would have his best interest in mind. It set off red flags for Matt because what was Patty's motivation to help him? Was she going to double-cross him in the same way that Phyllis did?

Matt knew that people didn't naturally trust him, so he had to be selective with who he allowed into his inner circle. He found it difficult to believe that Patty was as redeemed as she claimed to be. Matt may not remember who he was, but his perception was just as sharp as ever.

Patty pleaded with Matt to believe that she'd never sell him out the way that Phyllis planned to. However, he was still on the fence. Patty had a twisted history of her own, and all of his spider senses were tingling and warning him not to trust her. Matt took off and left her high and dry, which was the biggest mistake he could've made. Patty immediately made a call to Victor and hinted at being able to help locate Matt Clark.

Phyllis is officially out of options | Image: CBS

Phyllis returned to her office, and she vented to Lauren about losing possession of Matt Clark. He was in her room one minute, and he was gone the next. She knew that it had Patty written all over it, but she couldn't worry about her involvement at the moment. This was her one get-out-of-jail-free card, and she'd lost all leverage over Victor and Christine.

Phyllis thought that Patty wanted to convince everyone that she was reformed, and taking out Matt Clark could be her ticket to achieving that. Using Matt to get in everyone's good graces was Phyllis' idea, and she refused to allow Patty to steal that path to freedom from her.

Nick knew that Phyllis no longer had Matt, so all of her leverage was gone. Lauren offered Phyllis a solution, even if it wasn't what she wanted to hear. There was one option that Phyllis continued to ignore every time the subject was broached, despite it being the clearest path to escaping the charges.

Even if the evidence was never going to hold up in court, this was a battle that Phyllis was never going to come out of unscathed. She lost Summer and Daniel, and now her freedom was at risk. This wasn't the right time to try and prove herself to Genoa City's power players. There was a clear-cut path toward securing her freedom, but she refused to surrender.

Even if it didn't make sense to anyone else, that company was the only thing that Phyllis had left. At least that's what she believed. Lauren tried to remind her dear friend of her self-worth, but Phyllis didn't think she had anything else to hold on to. The biggest decision of her life was ahead of her.

Interlude in the city

Claire and Holden seem back on track | Image: CBS

In NYC, Holden and Claire were getting quite hot and heavy, but a text interrupted everything. Malcolm was ready for visitors, but he didn't want to leave Claire yet. He was far more focused on spending a night between the sheets with her.

Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.