Surprise exit: Alice Hunter ends her run as The Young and the Restless chemist Kerry

In a surprise twist many viewers didn't see coming, The Young and the Restless' Kerry Johnson and her portrayer, Alice Hunter, are taking an "indefinite hiatus" from the CBS soap opera.

She had brains, she had beauty, but apparently, The Young and the Restless' super-chemist Kerry Johnson didn't have staying power. Much to the surprise of fans of the CBS soap opera, Kerry's portrayer, Alice Hunter, reveals that she has exited the series she joined in October.

"To all asking -- yes, Kerry is taking an indefinite hiatus," the actress posted to Twitter. "She earns it though, you'll see soon enough. I LOVE the arc, even if I'm sad to leave."

In the same post, Hunter also shared that several Y&R cast and crew members surprised her on Friday with a farewell shindig, which is something she says she'll "never forget."

Hunter's exit news came hot on the heels of a Twitter post featuring a photo of her, Gina Tognoni (Phyllis Summers), and Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott) along with the caption: "My mentors. My friends. This journey has been indescribable." The tweet immediately sparked rumors of a possible exit, which is what prompted the actress to reveal that yes, she is indeed leaving Genoa City.

Hunter began airing as Kerry in October 2018. The character immediately proved her skills in chemistry, not only as an actual chemist for Jabot but also as a love interest for Jack (Peter Bergman). Though she was only on the scene for a few months, she quickly became a fan favorite, which makes her impending exit all the more surprising.

Hunter, however, is taking her exit in stride and states that her departure will allow some of the show's veteran players to have more screen time. "With the regime change and some awesome vets in need of screen time, I'm happy to move aside for the time being," Hunter told a fan on Twitter.

In addition to Y&R, some of Hunter's credits include Monarch Cove, H20: Just Add Water, Olympia, Bad Samaritans, House of Lies, and Another Period.

Back in November, Hunter revealed to Soap Central that she always knew she'd one day appear on a soap opera and even auditioned for Days of our Lives ten years ago. Might she continue in the daytime industry on another show? Keep checking back to Soap Central for updates on the actress as well as updates regarding her final Y&R airdate, if and when they come.

Fans will also have to tune in to find out what Hunter meant when she said her alter ego "earns" her time away from Genoa City. Hmm...

How do you feel about Alice Hunter's exit from Y&R? What do you think will take Kerry Johnson off the canvas? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.