Procter & Gamble has confirmed that two-time Emmy winner Martha Byrne will soon exit As the World Turns. Other websites are reporting that the fan fave — who plays Lily Snyder — nixed an insulting offer to re-sign her contract. Not so, claims the soap’s executive producer Chris Goutman. “We made Martha an incredibly generous offer in hopes that she would remain a valuable member of the ATWT cast,” Goutman says in a statement. “Unfortunately, Martha has decided to leave despite our best efforts to keep her.”

Those close to the situation swear that’s no baloney. “When Goutman says ‘generous,’ he means it — the offer was generous by anyone’s standards,” insists one longtime staffer. “I don’t know what else the show could have done for Martha.”

The actress, who is still taping episodes, will be off the air by April. Word is, a recast is likely.

http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Soaps-News/Martha-Byrne-Exits/800034612

From what's known, she also wanted story dictation. Who the hell can blame her with the way many of the characters have been written in the last year and a half? The women are written so badly on the show nowadays. They intend on making them very weak and dependent. And the men can be very holier-than-thou.

I can't believe they want to recast that character. That is just an insult. They should know that's a bad decision; especially since the last time they tried recasting Lily, it just bombed.

I hate it when an actor leaves a soap, especially when Martha has played this character since she was a young girl! A re-cast will be really hard to accept. I hope Martha reconsiders, as the character of Lily will not be the same without her and she has so much chemistry with the actor who plays Holden...

That is very upsetting. I love Martha Byrne.:(