Billy J. Miller (Billy Abbott) has broken his silence about his exit from The Young and the Restless. The Emmy-winning actor confirms that his departure was the result of the CBS soap's unwillingness to give him so-called "outs" to pursue projects outside of daytime.

"I was made a generous offer to stay," Miller told Soap Opera Digest in its December 30th edition. "To pass was the hardest thing I've ever done. I was caught between a rock and a hard place. In the past, we were able to venture out of the Y&R world; now it seems there is no longer that flexibility for me."

In November, fans were stunned to learn that Y&R had put out cloaked casting calls for the role of Billy Abbott. It wasn't the first time that Miller and CBS had been involved in rocky contract talks, but it was the first time that The Young and the Restless seemed ready to recast the role if a deal could not be reached.

"[W]e clearly came to a standstill," Milled offered.

By the end of that same month, CBS announced that another Emmy winner, David Tom, would be taking over the role of Billy in 2014. Tom last appeared as Billy in 2002.

Miller debuted on The Young and the Restless in September 2008. He was named Outstanding Supporting Actor at the Daytime Emmys in 2010 and earlier this year. He began his daytime run in 2007 as Richie Novak on ABC's All My Children.

Miller taped his final Y&R scenes on Thursday, December 19. He'll make his last on-screen appearance on January 30, 2014. David Tom, meanwhile, returns just four days later on February 3, 2014.

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