Actress Cherie Jiménez I knew it would be a challenging road to take on the iconic role of Gabi Hernandez. Days of Our Lives in June, but he wasn’t prepared for the bullying from a segment of the fan base.

Jimenez took over the role of Gabi. Camila BanusPortraying the popular character for 13 years. While Banus was not the first person to play Gabi (she was first portrayed by Gabriella Rodriguez from 2009 to 2010), she was the longest-running and most associated with the character.

Banus shot its last episode Days While she left in April 2023 to focus on starting a family with her husband Marlon Aquino. “My husband and I are trying to start a family, hopefully,” she said Winding last year. “And that’s probably another big factor in me slowing down a little bit and seeing where this time takes me.”

To talk Soaps.com Before her episodes began airing, Jimenez said: “I understand it won’t be easy, but I really hope people fall in love with my interpretation of Gabi and know that I’m doing the best I can. I’m giving it my all.”

Camila Banus; Amy Sussman/Getty Images

“Camila played this role for 13 years,” he added. “This is her baby. He brought a lot of his own identity to this character. The biggest thing is I want to do justice and stay in the same space as who Gabi Hernandez is, but at the same time, I am my own person. And so at the end of the day, I’m going to bring parts of who I am into there as well.

However, since his episodes aired, Jimenez has faced backlash from some viewers, many of whom have spread their hatred for the actor online.

“I cried a lot in the beginning,” Jimenez said in a new interview. Woman’s World. “The fan base was basically bullying me. “People miss Camila, and although I try to bring elements of her to the role, I’m not Camila.”

Jimenez explained that it wasn’t just about hate comments online, people were contacting him directly and “reaching out to do this.” It really hurt.”

“Bullying in any form is unacceptable,” he said. “So I choose to change the narrative and what I accept. My life is so full. I am blessed. I am very grateful.”

Jimenez also said he was “proud of his work” and had received praise from officials. Days high-ranking people. “My producers and bosses let me know that I exceeded their expectations and now I have some fans,” he said. “I would say it’s 50/50, so I focus on the viewers who gave me a chance and showed me love.”