Is The Young and the Restless ready to say goodbye to Sharon Newman on her 30th anniversary? Why we think so

Sharon Newman, played by Sharon Case, completes her three decades of journey with The Young and the Restless in 2024, following which the show will pay tribute to the iconic character with a special episode set to air on September 27, 2024. On one hand, where the show celebrates the 30-year journey of Sharon, her current storyline on the show paves the way for a possible exit from the show.

Regular viewers of the show must know the struggles that Sharon has gone through due to troublemaker Cameron Kristen, and how, even after his death, his thoughts are haunting her. This chaos has led Sharon into a tough spot, as Heather has been found dead in mysterious circumstances and the person to blame is potentially Sharon.

As Sharon Newman is not completely in her senses, she might also not be able to defend herself from the allegation, leading her either to jail or to a mental asylum for treatment. Both these situations hint at the exit of the character.

Sharon Newman, on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, has been played by actress Sharon Case since the year the character was introduced. However, actresses Monica Potter and Heidi Mark played the role for a few episodes at the beginning. Sharon first appeared on-screen on June 27, 1994, and soon got involved with Nick Newman.

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The Young and the Restless: What is happening with Sharon Newman?

In the recent episodes of The Young and the Restless, viewers saw Heather’s tragic death. Due to Sharon’s poor mental health condition as she is visualizing Cameron Kristen, Sharon almost poisoned Daniel, but Heather stepped in and ended up dying instead.

Since Sharon blacked out during the incident, it’s unclear if she accidentally killed Heather or if someone else is to blame. The ongoing murder investigation and Sharon’s worsening mental state have put her future in Genoa City at risk. If she’s found guilty or declared mentally unfit, Sharon could end up in prison or a high-security facility, which would likely mean her departure from the show.

Sharon's mental health has been getting worse for weeks. She keeps seeing Cameron everywhere, and her haunting past with Cameron has thrown Sharon into a delusional and dangerous mindset. Sharon's unstable condition could cause her to leave Genoa City to seek help.

A possible plot for Sharon’s departure could be similar to what happened with characters like Nikki Newman and Diane Jenkins. In the past, Nikki thought she killed Diane while drunk, but Diane later appeared alive. Sharon might go through something similar, feeling guilty for a crime she might not have committed.

In soap operas, characters often disappear for a long time after such intense storylines, especially if they get involved in a long legal fight or need mental health treatment.

In a September 14, 2024, interview with Soaps.com Sharon Case mentioned the constant worry about soap opera contracts, saying that there’s always a fear of being removed from the show. This statement makes it clear that even when a character has been running for so long, there is always a possibility of exit.

Over the past 30 years on The Young and the Restless, Sharon has faced several heartbreaking losses and trauma—like losing her daughter, Cassie, and fighting breast cancer.

The writers might see this current story as the final, big tragedy in Sharon’s life, possibly leading to her leaving The Young and the Restless for good. Although several hints indicate the potential exit, it is also important to remember that there is no official confirmation from the actor or the makers yet.

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Fans of The Young and the Restless can watch the new episodes of the show on CBS.