Imagine working at a job you love for forty years, then all of a sudden you're told you're no longer welcome there?

It didn't happen exactly like that, but what happened to The Young and the Restless star Doug Davidson isn't that much different.

The actor, who spent the last four decades portraying Paul Williams, has recently revealed that he has been booted from the long-running CBS soap opera, and fans are struggling to come to terms with the news.

It all goes back to the start of the year when Davidson's contract as a regular wasn't renewed. Instead, he was billed as recurring, "but until they had new people in place," he said in an interview with Soaps.com.

Now, nine months later, Davidson has confirmed on Twitter that he will be leaving Genoa City.

On September 10, a fan asked if he had been let go and Davidson responded, "It seems so." He also replied to another fan who seemed upset about the news, admitting that "it does hurt, to be honest."

He revealed that "they [Y&R] have a new direction," after an angry fan tweeted about his shocking departure and wrote that the show was "self-destructing."

Davidson explained to Soaps.com that he knew his tenure was up when he also has "2 shows that haven't aired and no dates." He added, "So, as far as I know, I am gone."

Davidson was also asked by a fan who has watched the show since the 1970s why there were so many cast changes. He replied, "They are doing away with history."

Since his firing was made pubic, Davidson's Twitter timeline has been filled with messages of support, including some from his fellow actors.

Stephen Nichols, Days of Our Lives alumna who went through something similar, wrote: "This is an absolute travesty. What is going on over there? This man has not only acted his a** off at #YR for 40 years but is a man of the utmost integrity.  I am saddened by this news. Much love, Doug!"

Some fans started a petition to get CBS to give the longtime Genoa City resident his job back.

He later wrote a message thanking his followers for their "kindness and love," and allowing him to have a "fabulous career."

Davidson has indeed had a great career as an actor on Y&R. Over the years, he has earned five Daytime Emmy nominations and won the trophy in 2013 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama.

The show will definitely not be the same without Davidson, but we're sure he will find success in whatever he chooses to do next.