‘Days of our Lives’ To Make History With First-Ever On-Screen Wedding Of African-American Couple
Days Of Our Lives is gearing up for a major history-making moment. After more than five decades on air, the soap will feature its first on-screen wedding of an African American couple. Viewers are waiting to see the bride, played by an America’s Next Top Model alum, walk down the aisle to her knight an shining armor after a back and forth romance.
Lani and Eli’s romance on ‘Days Of Our Lives’
Lani (Sal Stowers) and Eli (Lamon Archey), affectionately called Elani by fans of the show, have been viewers favorite since the start of their romance.
Related: ‘Days of our Lives’ Star, Sal Stowers, Won Cycle 9 Of ‘America’s Next Top Model’
Stowers joined the cast in 2015 as a police cadet in the town of Salem. Archey has played the role of Eli since 2011. The couple’s road to the altar has been long and messy. Lani was once in a relationship with her partner, Detective J.J. Deveraux. They hit a bump in the road after she became suspicious of JJ potentially cheating. As a result, she had a one night stand with Eli, resulting in an unplanned pregnancy.
Lani initially kept the pregnancy news to herself, with the intention of terminating the pregnancy but JJ found out and assumed the baby was his, convincing Lani to move forward. Eli’s mom soon found out that Lani was expecting and threatened to tell her son, despite Lani still trying to hold on to her relationship with JJ.
JJ discovers the truth and Lani eventually has a medical emergency and her baby dies tragically in a premature delivery of her son. The loss sent Lani and on a downward spiral and she suffered an emotional breakdown of sorts. Soon, she and Eli rekindle their relationship.
Eli and Lani were engaged previously, but their wedding ceremony was a disaster with Lani leaving Eli at the alter after being blackmailed. Lani skipped town before returning and reconnecting with Eli. This time around, the couple have nothing standing in their way and are expecting a child together.
Lani and Eli will be the first African American couple to wed in ‘Days of our Lives’ history
The long-running soap premiered in 1965. Lani and Eli will make history as the first African-American couple to wed on-screen in the soap’s 54-year history. Archey shared the news in a celebratory Tweet.
Stowers is thrilled and honored about the feat, taking to social media to share the news with their fans.
“Lamon and I will become the first African American couple to get married on-screen In the 54 years of Days Of Our Lives. So many emotions as I type this,” Stowers began in an Instagram post of a video promo of the upcoming episode. “I am truly thankful to be the woman to tell Lani’s story and honored to stand by Lamon’s side as we break the mold,” she continued in part.
Vanessa A. Williams, who’s starred on the soap as Eli’s mother Valerie Grant since 2016, also basked at the moment.
“HISTORY making #BlackLOVE on @nbcdays WATCH THIS WEEK! #elani @lamonarchey @salstowers get to the chapel on time,” she captioned a photo of her and Archey. Archey reposted the same photo to his account.
The episode comes at a crucial time in television and culture, as major companies across industries are implementing changes to combat systematic racism. and be more inclusive of people of color.
