Young & Restless Exclusive: Mark Grossman and Melissa Claire Egan Mount a Defense for ‘Chadam’ Cheating Scandal, Noting, ‘It Was Like Second-Degree-Sex, Not First’

Is there any way to justify a love square? Well, The Young and the Restless stars Melissa Claire Egan and Mark Grossman might have found a way to defend Chelsea and Adam’s shocking hookup. Even though their characters are both in sweet spots in their other relationships, they are a testament to the idea that adultery can be tricky in daytime television!

Soaps.com got the inside scoop from Egan on how she could be so duplicitous to Adam’s girlfriend, Sally, when she’s “been there for [Chelsea and Adam aka “Chadam”] through Connor’s [OCD] diagnosis.” Egan says that even though “her friendship with Sally has gotten better and she’s so grateful that Sally’s helped her son,” the hookup with Adam was “by accident.” That’s when Egan mounts the most hilarious defense for Chelsea and Adam’s cheating ways.

More: The complicated love life of Adam Newman

Egan jokes, “But she didn’t do it intentionally. It was like second-degree sex, not first-degree. It wasn’t intentional.” Tell that to poor Sally and Billy! Grossman chimes in, “Yeah, it’s obviously not at a great time. We both were in relationships that we’re very happy with,” he says. “So, it was very unexpected and there was some alcohol involved and we didn’t plan this.” Viewers are going to have to wait and “see if someone cracks” or “if it’ll happen again.” We are placing bets on a major summer fling!

More: The lies and loves of Chelsea Lawson

Egan is promising that this debacle is not just a “two-person thing” because the “dynamic” between Adam and Billy is also going to be explored. “Even though they hate each other, that’s a messed up thing to do to a guy,” she says. “It’s this square of mixed stuff.” The self-sabotage is something Adam is going to have to contend with moving forward, too.

“I think Adam has that element to him for sure,” Grossman shares, “When things are going too well, [he adds in] a little self-sabotage [because] he’s always used to some chaos going on in his life. And as an actor, that’s fun. I enjoy that part of Adam, [even though it’s] not great for a steady relationship and a happy home, but [it’s] good for some drama.”

So, maybe “Chadam” is just a teeny bit toxic together? Well, Egan thinks there’s a dash of bad and good to Chelsea and Adam’s relationship. “They’ve been through so many amazing things together and having a son and just really loving each other,” she debates the idea, “but also toxic. So, it’s like half toxic, half not.”

“It’s not fully toxic,” Grossman concurs.

That’s when we all agree, Chelsea and Adam, might just be “tappy” —  they’re happy, but toxic together. It’s a juicy summer storyline to dig right into!

Don’t miss our full interview with Melissa Claire Egan and Mark Grossman and why Connor’s mental health journey keeps them bringing them back together in the video above.