Greg Vaughan reveals private, never-aired messages with Drake Hogestyn—but it’s the shocking twist about Eric, Nicole, and baby Jude that truly stuns fans…

Everyone thought it was the end. John Black’s emotional farewell had left fans teary-eyed, mourning the departure of a Days of Our Lives legend. Greg Vaughan, who plays Eric Brady, stepped forward to pay tribute, sharing personal memories and off-camera moments with Drake Hogestyn. What no one expected was that this tribute would turn into something far more explosive.

In a rare, candid video interview, Greg opened up about what really happened during John’s final days on set. He talked about private text exchanges with Drake—messages so raw, so heartfelt, they were deemed too personal to air. Greg described the last scene, the moment they hugged goodbye, and the lingering silence that followed once the cameras stopped rolling. “It felt like losing a brother,” he admitted, voice trembling.

But just as the tribute began to settle, Greg dropped another revelation—one that flipped the narrative entirely.

Eric isn’t sticking around.

Without warning, Greg confirmed that Eric would be leaving Salem—with Nicole and baby Jude in tow. No build-up, no fanfare. Just gone.

It wasn’t a storyline death, nor a dramatic send-off. According to Greg, it was a “quiet, painful exit” decided behind the scenes. “Eric had to choose between staying and fighting for what’s left, or leaving to protect what he loves,” he said. The decision wasn’t just Eric’s—but Nicole’s too. Together, they vanish—leaving family and fans in shock.

The timing couldn’t be more devastating. Just as viewers were grieving the loss of John Black, now comes the disappearance of one of the show’s most conflicted and beloved characters. And baby Jude? His sudden departure with Eric and Nicole adds layers of questions the writers haven’t answered—yet.

Greg’s words were laced with finality. There was no hint of a return, no promise of a future arc. “Some stories end not with a bang, but with a goodbye you never saw coming,” he said.

And that goodbye has just begun to ripple through the fanbase.

Will Salem ever be the same again?