Craig Melvin Gets Slapped by Soap Legend Deidre Hall on Air: ‘Don’t Hurt The Moneymaker’

Craig Melvin took an on-screen slap from daytime soap opera legend Deidre Hall like a champ during an interview on the Today Show.

Melvin, 47, had Hall, 78, on the morning talk show on Friday, June 19, to discuss her incredible 50-year run on Days of Our Lives. Toward the end of their six-minute interview, the host complimented the actress on one particular facet of her soap acting prowess.

“Of all of the storylines that you’ve been a part of over the years, the coma, the demonic possession, what I’ve always enjoyed is your ability to slap,” he shared. “You’re a great slapper.”

Melvin asked her to calculate how many times she’s slapped someone onscreen, but she concluded that she “couldn’t begin to imagine” the total. That’s when Melvin cut to the chase.

“It would be one of the greatest professional honors of my life if you would slap me,” he said.

“It’d be a privilege to slap you,” she said, noting that the off-screen crew also seemed very excited by the idea of Melvin taking a hit.

“Be gentle now, don’t hurt the moneymaker,” Melvin joked.

Luckily for him, Hall is a professional and walked him through how to take a slap on camera without actually getting hit.

“Now, I’m going to draw my hand back, and I’m going to come very close to your face, and when you feel that happen you’re going to snap your head,” she said. “Are you ready?”

With that, she drew her hand back and Melvin pulled his head back at just the right time as a slap sound effect played in the studio. The host pretended to cry.

“Half these guys clapping wished that you actually did it,” Melvin said of the crew.