Cameron Mathison Reflects on Being the Soap Opera Villain Everyone Loved to Hate
Can’t wait to see how this soap opera saga unfolds. Cameron Mathison, the man who once made the world root against him on “All My Children,” has opened up about the backlash he faced while trying to break up Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos’ iconic characters. Yes, you read that right—Mathison, now a villain on “General Hospital,” was once a villain in real life, at least in the eyes of dedicated soap fans. During an appearance on “Live with Kelly and Mark,” he recalled the sheer vitriol he faced back in his ’90s heyday. Apparently, playing Ryan Lavery wasn’t just a role; it was a full-time job in damage control. When Mathison’s character dared to disrupt the beloved romance of Hayley and Mateo, fans didn’t hold back. He recounted a bus driver yelling at him to “stay away from Hayley” and claimed he routinely faced hatred while just trying to do his job. Ah, the glamorous life of a soap star—where getting booed at the grocery store is just part of the gig.
Mathison, now 55, humorously spoke about his current role as Drew Cain on “General Hospital,” where he’s also not winning any popularity contests. His character has spiraled into villainy, including having an affair with his nephew’s wife. Sounds like a real family-oriented plot, right? He jokingly noted that his character’s transformation is akin to “spoiled milk,” and this seems to be the only thing more sour than the public’s reaction to his character on “All My Children.” He reminisced about how his soap opera career introduced him to an entirely new level of public scorn, and apparently, fruits have become a common projectile in his life. “Now I get apples thrown at me in the supermarket,” he lamented, which honestly sounds like a scene straight out of a sitcom.
And let’s not forget that Ripa and Consuelos played the couple at the center of Mathison’s character’s mischief. Their on-screen romance blossomed into a real-life love story, and they’re now a power couple. Meanwhile, Mathison’s character was kind of like that annoying fly that just won’t go away—everyone wishes he’d just take the hint and buzz off. In the soap world, a love triangle can be as deadly as a plot twist in a horror movie, and Mathison’s unfortunate role in it left him branded as the soap opera equivalent of a villainous scoundrel.
In the end, Mathison’s career has been a rollercoaster of love, hate, and some really questionable character choices. The backlash he faced back in the day is a reminder that soap fans are fiercely loyal, and when you mess with their favorite couples, you better be ready for the fallout. So here’s to Mathison, the man who wears the title of “hated” like a badge of honor. Who knew being a soap opera villain could be such an art form?
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Variety
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
