Beverly Hills, 90210 Actress Recalls Intense Fan Backlash Over Her Character

Angel Boris says fans 'were ripping me apart' when her character came between Brandon and Kelly

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:04pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of shattered glass and glittering sequins, capturing the dramatic glamour and high-stakes emotions of the Beverly Hills, 90210 fandom.The intense fan reaction to a character disrupting the beloved Brandon and Kelly relationship on Beverly Hills, 90210 exposed the show's passionate fanbase.Beverly Hills Today

Angel Boris, who played the character of Emma Bennett on the hit TV show Beverly Hills, 90210, is opening up about the intense fan backlash she faced when her character came between the show's beloved couple, Brandon Walsh and Kelly Taylor. Boris says fans were convinced she was a 'cruel' person in real life due to the actions of her character on the show.

Why it matters

The strong fan reaction to Boris' character highlights the passionate connection viewers had with the iconic Brandon and Kelly relationship, which was a central storyline throughout the show's run. Boris' experience also sheds light on the challenges actors can face when portraying unpopular characters, even when just playing a role.

The details

Boris appeared in five episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 during season 8, playing a journalist named Emma Bennett who seduces the character of Brandon Walsh, played by Jason Priestley. This led to Brandon and his long-term girlfriend Kelly Taylor, played by Jennie Garth, breaking up and calling off their wedding. Boris said it was a 'very hard role to step into' as fans were so invested in the Brandon and Kelly relationship. After the episodes aired, Boris said she 'stupidly' went online and read comments from fans who were 'ripping me apart' and convinced she was a 'cruel' person in real life, far from her actual personality.

  • Angel Boris appeared in five episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 during season 8 in the late 1990s.
  • The Beverly Hills, 90210 series finale aired on May 17, 2000.

The players

Angel Boris

The actress who played the character of Emma Bennett, a journalist who seduced the character of Brandon Walsh, causing issues in his long-term relationship with Kelly Taylor.

Brandon Walsh

A main character on Beverly Hills, 90210, played by Jason Priestley, who was in a long-term relationship with Kelly Taylor until his character had a one-night stand with Angel Boris' character.

Kelly Taylor

A main character on Beverly Hills, 90210, played by Jennie Garth, who was in a long-term relationship with Brandon Walsh until his character's infidelity led to their breakup.

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What they’re saying

“When you're dealing with a couple like Brandon and Kelly, such a power couple that have been together for so long, and then in comes this bitch, you know, basically a vixen, homewrecker. And, you know, it's hard to walk in and be that person to shake things up.”

— Angel Boris, Actress

“So I was like listening and stupidly going online and reading what people were saying and they were ripping me apart. I was like, 'Oh my God. Oh my God. They hate me.' But I realized that, well, 'Maybe that just means I did a good job because they hate me that much.' It's so far from who I am. But it was super fun to play.”

— Angel Boris, Actress

The takeaway

The intense fan backlash that Angel Boris faced for her role in coming between the beloved couple of Brandon and Kelly on Beverly Hills, 90210 highlights the passionate connection viewers can have with iconic TV relationships, even to the point of projecting the character's actions onto the real-life actress. This experience sheds light on the challenges actors can face when portraying unpopular characters, despite just playing a fictional role.