‘General Hospital’ Star Steve Burton Speaks Out on Kelly Monaco’s Firing

GH fans have been rocked by the unexpected news that Kelly Monaco has been fired. Steve Burton, her longtime on-screen partner, is breaking his silence about her departure. Keep reading for all the details.

General Hospital has seen numerous changes this year, both on-screen and behind the scenes. In early 2024, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor were dismissed from their roles as head writers, and Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahey stepped in as their replacements. Unfortunately, Mulcahey’s tenure was short-lived, and he was let go a few months later. By August, the show announced that Van Etten had been rehired to join Elizabeth Korte in writing for the series.

The behind-the-scenes drama is overshadowed by significant cast changes. After a three-year hiatus, Steve Burton returned to the show. Jonathan Jackson also made a comeback, reprising his role as Lucky after nearly a decade. The actor had previously appeared in 2015 to help write Luke Spencer (Tony Geary) off the show. However, making room for the return of Lucky and Jason meant saying goodbye to several actors. Michael Easton, Roger Howarth, and Michael E. Knight exited in 2024. Nicholas Chavez also decided not to reprise his role as Spencer Cassadine, opting instead to pursue a major role in a Netflix production.

Amid this revolving door of characters, fans were shocked to learn that Kelly Monaco, who has been part of General Hospital for 21 years, was leaving the show.

In January, ABC aired a primetime special to celebrate the soap’s 60th anniversary, which included the exciting news of Steve Burton’s return as Jason Quartermaine. Burton had been let go in 2021 due to his refusal to get the COVID vaccine. Kelly Monaco and Laura Wright, who play Jason’s leading ladies Sam and Carly, were part of the celebratory announcement.

Since joining the show in 2003, Kelly Monaco’s character Sam McCall has been romantically linked to Jason. Fans, who affectionately call the couple “JaSam,” had been hopeful for a rekindling of their romance, although the duo has shared limited screen time since Burton’s return. However, those hopes have been dashed with Monaco’s departure, amid rumors that the show might kill off Sam’s character.

Addressing Monaco’s firing, Steve Burton spoke out on the matter during his podcast, Daily Drama, which he co-hosts with his GH co-star Bradford Anderson (Spinelli). In an episode recorded shortly after the news broke, the podcast’s YouTube page was flooded with questions about Monaco’s sudden exit. Anderson revealed that the show was on a filming break and that the rest of the cast learned about Monaco’s firing alongside the public. He mentioned that they did not have any additional information beyond what had already been reported.

Steve Burton echoed Anderson’s sentiments, stating, “I wish we had information to tell you.” He speculated that more details would emerge in the days to come. Burton expressed uncertainty about how the show would write off Sam but noted, “Whatever happens sucks.”

You can watch the podcast clip below.

Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson addressed Kelly Monaco’s firing from #GH @dailydramatv pic.twitter.com/SzUIQLdpWo

— Special Guest Star ♏️ (@jon_ari_) August 27, 2024

The departure of Kelly Monaco marks a significant shift for General Hospital, leaving fans and cast members alike awaiting more information about the future of Sam McCall’s character.

Source: ABC YouTube