Fans of The Young and the Restless have been watching the emotional fallout between Devon Hamilton and Lily Winters with shock as their once-unbreakable sibling bond collapses.
But while the characters may be tearing each other apart on screen, the reality behind the scenes tells a completely different story.
According to actor Bryton James, his relationship with co-star Christel Khalil is one of the closest friendships on the entire set.
A Friendship That Goes Back Decades
In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, Bryton James revealed just how deep his connection with Khalil truly runs.
The two actors have been part of each other’s lives for decades, creating a bond that feels more like family than friendship.
James explained that when Khalil returned to the show, it didn’t feel like any time had passed at all.
“We see and talk to each other so often, it doesn’t feel like a lot of time has passed,” he shared.
Their history actually stretches back even further than their years in Genoa City. Khalil once guest-starred on the classic sitcom Family Matters, the same series where James began his acting career as a child.
Looking back, the actor joked that their long history makes Khalil feel like a real sibling.
“It’s been 22 years for me on Y&R, so that’s my 22-year-old sister right there — in real and fake life,” he said.
A Dramatic Reunion On Screen
While their real-life friendship remains strong, the storyline unfolding between Devon and Lily is anything but peaceful.
When Lily returned to Genoa City, she immediately found herself at the center of a major scandal after revealing the truth about her shocking deal with Victor Newman.
Her staged kidnapping — meant to manipulate events surrounding Cane Ashby — left Devon furious once the truth surfaced.
The revelation that Lily allowed her own family to believe she and her children were in danger proved to be too much for Devon to accept.
And according to James, his character’s reaction is completely justified.
“Making your family believe that her life or the twins’ lives are in danger is a pretty big deal,” he explained.
Devon Isn’t Ready to Forgive
The fallout between the siblings has been intense.
Devon feels deeply betrayed by Lily’s deception, and the trust between them has been shattered.
James believes it may take a long time for the two characters to repair their relationship.
However, he hinted that forgiveness is always possible — even if Devon never fully forgets what happened.
“Devon definitely doesn’t forget things,” the actor noted.
That lingering tension could keep the sibling feud alive for quite some time.
Why Bryton James Loves the Conflict
Interestingly, James admits he actually enjoys performing these heated confrontations with Khalil.
Because the two actors are such close friends, they trust each other completely during emotional scenes.
For James, those dramatic moments are also a rare opportunity to play emotions he doesn’t often experience in real life.
“I never really have any conflict or confrontations where I get to yell at people,” he joked.
“So as an actor, I always enjoy doing what I don’t get to do often.”
Drama On Screen, Family Behind the Scenes
Despite the chaos unfolding between Devon and Lily in Genoa City, their portrayers remain inseparable behind the scenes.
Their decades-long friendship has become one of the most genuine relationships among the cast of The Young and the Restless — proving that sometimes the most intense rivalries on television are performed by actors who care deeply about each other off camera.
And as the Winters family drama continues to explode on screen, fans can at least take comfort in knowing that the real-life bond between Bryton James and Christel Khalil is stronger than ever.