Is Christel Khalil Leaving The Young and The Restless?

The storyline where Lily Ashby could be facing jail time for Hilary’s death had some fans wondering if Christel Khalil was leaving THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS. But the actress set their minds at ease with a heartfelt Instagram post where she explained that she’s not leaving the soap, just dropping off-contract to recurring status.

“I wanted you to be the first to know that if you see less of me on Y&R, it’s because I have decided to switch from full-time to recurring status,” Khalil confided. “That means I’m not leaving, just ready — after 16 amazing years playing Lily — to explore new things! I will continue to be a proud member of the Y&R family and look forward to further adventures playing Lily. Thank you for all the love and support over the years!”

Khalil made her debut as Lily back in 2002. (Photo Credit: Aaron Montgomery/jpistudios.com)

Khalil joined Y&R back in August of 2002 and left in September of 2005 before returning to reclaim her role in November of 2006. During her time on the soap, Khalil has done a little moonlighting, with guest roles on NCIS: LOS ANGELES and 2 BROKE GIRLS as well as voicing the character of Cornelia Hail in the Disney animated series W.I.T.C.H.. But perhaps, now that she’s no longer on contract with Y&R, the talented actress will be able to stretch her wings with even more diverse roles.

Naturally, we’ll keep you up to date on Khalil’s future endeavors both in and out of daytime, so stay tuned. And for more on your favorite Y&R stars, keep reading the CBS edition of Soaps In Depth magazine!