While the reason for the actor's leaving has not been made entirely clear, one thing is apparent: Donny Boaz did not want to leave his role playing Chance.
When Boaz announced his departure via an Instagram post, it originally contained the statement "I'd love to say that this was my choice, that I've booked the next big project and leaving of my own accord... but that wouldn't be the truth," according to Soap Opera Digest. The post has since been edited to remove that portion of the actor's statement, as has a further claim, repeated by Newsweek, that Boaz originally stated that he was told he was going to be let go in December of 2020 and that he would be one of "4 or 5" actors who would be leaving the soap due to budget cuts necessitated by working conditions mandated under the Covid-19 pandemic.
Boaz was previously forced to sit out Chance and Abby's wedding when he tested positive for Covid-19 in November of 2020 (via Instagram). He was replaced in the wedding scenes by Ordway's actor husband Justin Gaston. As for Chance, he's still out there somewhere. Perhaps someday he'll return to parent his new son.
