Y&R: Why Daniel Romalotti’s Cruel Streak Makes Devon Hamilton Look Like a Saint

WHY DANIEL ROMALOTTI MIGHT BE THE MOST JUDGMENTAL MAN IN GENOA CITY

TL;DR: On the June 5 Young and the Restless, Daniel coldly rejected his mother Phyllis Summers’ attempt to reconcile, just two days after Devon Hamilton lashed out at Lily Winters and Holden Novak. Now fans are asking which man is truly the bigger hypocrite.

The Week Two Genoa City Men Showed Their True Colors

Let us be honest about something. Devon Hamilton (Bryton James) catches a mountain of heat from viewers for acting holier-than-thou, and a good chunk of it is earned. But there is a take lighting up fan conversations right now, and it is awfully hard to shoot down. Some fans think Daniel Romalotti (Michael Graziadei) is every single bit as judgmental as Devon. Maybe worse. After the past week on Young and the Restless, they might be onto something big.

Got a strong opinion on whether Daniel or Devon is the bigger hypocrite? Write to our editor at amber@soapoperamagazine.com and tell us exactly whose side you are on.

Did Daniel Take His Cruelty Too Far With Phyllis?

Yes, and even Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) thought so. On the June 5 episode, Daniel sat down with his mother, Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford), right after she handed back Newman Enterprises, the very company she schemed to steal in the first place. You would think returning it might buy a sliver of goodwill. It did not. Daniel told Phyllis she had learned absolutely nothing, branded her a martyr, and then watched her walk out in tears.

Here is where Daniel Romalotti really shows his hand. Sharon witnessed the whole cold exchange and called him on it, warning that writing his mother off as a lost cause only strips away any reason for her to do better. Ouch. When Sharon is the calm, reasonable one in a scene about your mom, that is your cue to take a long, hard look in the mirror.

And let us not forget the bigger picture. Daniel already disowned Phyllis back in February, even threatening her access to his daughter, Lucy Romalotti (Lily Brooks O’Briant). This is not a single bad afternoon. This is a full-blown pattern from a man who has quietly appointed himself judge, jury, and moral referee of his own family.

Is Devon Hamilton Really the Bigger Villain?

Not so fast. Just two days earlier, Devon was busy proving his critics right. On June 3, he warned newcomer Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) that the Winters family was not his “meal ticket,” all but branding him a gold-digging opportunist before the guy had pulled a single shady move. Then Devon swung at his own sister, Lily Winters (Christel Khalil), lecturing her about her “skewed judgement.”

Lily was having none of it. She snapped back that Devon is stuck in his anger and “mad at the world.” And honestly? She nailed it. Devon has spent weeks trying to bulldoze Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes) into a prison cell instead of the psychiatric treatment a court already signed off on. He even marched into her facility just to tell her he still wants her locked up. His own wife, Abby Newman (Melissa Ordway), told him point blank that she does not even know who he is anymore.

So yes, Devon is being judgmental. But that is exactly the point fans keep hammering. It is the same scorched-earth energy Daniel Romalotti brought to that table with Phyllis. The difference is the reaction. When Devon does it, fans pile on and call him insufferable. When Daniel does it, somehow he gets framed as the brave, wronged son finally standing up for himself.

What’s Next for Daniel and Devon?

Could this mean both men are barreling toward a hard fall? Given Daniel’s long history of dodging accountability, do not be surprised if his self-righteous streak isolates him the very same way Devon’s crusade has cost him with Lily and Abby. Reading between the lines, Daniel may be slowly morphing into the exact person he claims to despise, his own mother.

And Devon? Something tells me his war on Mariah and his swipes at Holden are setting up a serious reckoning. If I know these writers, both men are about to learn the hard way that judging everyone around you is a lonely place to live.

It all comes down to whether Daniel Romalotti and Devon can finally look in the mirror before they torch every relationship they have left. My gut says neither one is ready.

Sound off in the comments below. Are you Team Devon, Team Daniel, or are you convinced both of these men are equally insufferable? We are dying to know.

Don’t miss our latest The Young and the Restless spoilers for more twists and turns.