<P> Mark J Freeman of Afterbuzz TV talked in strongly critical terms about pandering to viewers who dislike seeing gay characters on TV: "instead of just saying' a majority of middle america doesn't like the gay storyline: let's kill them'...how about being the change?" Freeman framed it in an historical context, saying, "there are things in American history, that a majority of people...thought was right, and it didn't make it right,...and it doesn't mean that change should not have happened ." </P> <P> Fans expressed outrage via social media and letters to Soap Opera Digest . Social media fan reactions were published in Hollywood Life, and 2paragraphs.com, with one fan saying: "Will Horton was a beacon in the face of bullying and persecution . Today, you expect LGBTQ youth to watch his life strangled away". Soap Opera Digest printed a letter saying: "In my 30 - plus years as a Days viewer, I have never been more disgusted by a storyline than the violent strangulation death of a gay legacy character...As the mother of a young son who was struggling with his sexuality, we were able to watch Will come out, fall in love, and get married...Now I regret ever encouraging him to watch ." </P> <P> In another published tweet a fan thanked Alison Sweeney (who plays Will's mother, Sami Brady) for "voicing our disgust" to the killing of Will . Sweeney told Soap Opera Digest: "I was angry . I felt betrayed and hurt", and "this particular story point is something that I just don't agree with and I didn't from the moment they told me . And I don't understand why they did it ." Sweeney said: "it breaks my heart that there is no Will anymore ." </P> <P> Will's revival was welcomed by critics . Kristyn Burtt of SheKnows wrote: "The return of Chandler Massey to Days of Our Lives this fall has been a huge watershed moment for NBC . The character of Will Horton and his love story with Sonny Kiriakis, played by Freddie Smith, was a groundbreaking one on television . It really is a romance for the ages ." Hope Campbell of SoapHub said the killing of Will "ushered in a downward spiral for the soap just before its 50th anniversary that never stopped--until now . Welcome back, Will, and welcome back, Sami ." </P>

Who died first ej or will on days of our lives