The Bold and the Beautiful
B&B SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE EXCLUSIVE: Ronn Moss Reveals Susan Flannery Called Him Before Quitting — “You’re Right, I’m Out”
Ronn Moss breaks his silence on 25 years of “disrespect” at Bold and the Beautiful and reveals Susan Flannery called him before demanding Brad Bell kill her off.
RONN MOSS BREAKS SILENCE ON WHY HE AND SUSAN FLANNERY REALLY LEFT BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
TL;DR: Ronn Moss is speaking out like never before about his 2012 departure from Bold and the Beautiful. In a video recirculating on social media, the original Ridge Forrester says “politics” and “disrespect” drove him out after 25 years — and reveals that his exit directly triggered Susan Flannery‘s decision to leave weeks later.
The Resurfaced Video That Reignited a 13-Year Debate
For over a decade, Ronn Moss kept his public comments about leaving Bold and the Beautiful carefully measured. He talked about “signs from the universe” and “moving forward.” He was diplomatic. He was gracious. That era appears to be over.
Ronn says the reason he left was because of the “politics” & “disrespect” on the show. Seems there was a lot of drama behind the scenes @ CBS Studio.
by u/Consistent-Two1974 in boldandbeautiful
In a resurfaced video now circulating among fans on Reddit and social media, the man who originated the role of Ridge Forrester is laying it all out in plain language. “This is why the politics of the show, the derivation of the show, disrespect of the show got to a point where I just made a decision — at 25 years I’m done,” Moss states in the clip. No softening. No spin. Just a man who gave a quarter century to a show and walked away feeling like it wasn’t worth it anymore.
But Ronn Moss didn’t stop there. He dropped a revelation that reframes both his departure and that of his longtime co-star Susan Flannery, who played Stephanie Forrester from the show’s very first episode in March 1987.
Have thoughts on Ronn Moss’s bombshell revelations? Write to us at [email protected] — we want to hear your take!
The Phone Call That Changed Everything
According to Moss, Flannery had originally planned to stay on B&B for roughly seven more months to finish out a storyline before retiring on her own terms. But about a week after Moss made his decision to leave, she picked up the phone and called him.
“She called me up about a week later and said, ‘You know, you’re right. You’re absolutely right. I’m out of there too,'” Moss recounts. He says Flannery then went straight to executive producer Brad Bell with an ultimatum that left zero room for negotiation. “She said she went to Brad and told him, ‘I’m giving you two months. Kill me off. Just kill me off how you wanna do it. I’ll give you two months and then I’m gone.'”
The timeline tracks. Moss’s departure was announced publicly on August 11, 2012. Flannery’s was reported on August 20 — almost exactly one week later. Her character Stephanie Forrester was killed off via lung cancer on November 26, 2012, dying in the arms of Brooke Logan.
What Had Been Building Behind the Scenes
Moss’s frustrations didn’t materialize overnight. CBS had imposed budget cuts on Bell Phillip Television that were passed down as salary reductions right as his contract came up for renewal. He confirmed at the time that money was part of it, but said the deeper wound was a creeping sense that his contributions no longer mattered. He watched Ridge get pushed to the margins as the younger Hope Logan, Liam Spencer, and Steffy Forrester triangle took over the show.
When asked at the time whether Scott Clifton‘s Liam replacing Ridge as the focal male was a factor, Ronn Moss didn’t dodge it. He said it was. And then the wound that sealed the rift permanently: despite Moss specifically asking Brad Bell not to recast the role, Thorsten Kaye debuted as Ridge in December 2013. Moss later called it “a betrayal” and “a sign of real disrespect,” confirming he has had no contact with Bell since.
“I Miss the People. I Don’t Miss the Show.”
Perhaps the most telling line in the video is the simplest one. Moss says he loved the show, loved the people he worked with for 25 years, and misses them dearly. But he doesn’t miss the politics. “I don’t miss the [politics] of the show,” he says. “I miss the people.”
Flannery, for her part, has said almost nothing publicly in the years since. Hunter Tylo, who played Taylor Hayes, offered a different version of Flannery’s exit than the official retirement narrative, quoting her as saying “they won’t have me anymore.” Flannery permanently relocated from Los Angeles to Australia in mid-2025 to be near her daughter and grandchildren.
Fans who’ve seen the video are rallying hard behind both actors. One Reddit commenter captured the mood perfectly: “Dude showed more personality and conviction here than in 25 years as Ridgy Forrestah.” The post racked up significant engagement on the r/boldandbeautiful subreddit and the clip continues to circulate.
Whether you agree with Moss’s characterization of the show or not, there’s no denying the impact. Two founding stars — both there since day one in 1987 — walked away within weeks of each other, and the man who played Ridge Forrester is finally telling his version of why.
What do you think — was Ronn Moss right to walk away, or should he have stayed and fought for Ridge? Drop your take in the comments below!
WATCH THIS:
@soapoperamag Do you still think Dollar Bill.. is a good idea for Katie? I don't. To be fair, I didn't want this in the first place. Will their marriage last or will all this drama going on with Logan end this romance before the honeymoon period is even over? #BoldandtheBeautiful ♬ original sound – Soap Opera Magazine
