Jacqueline Grace Lopez Bids Farewell to General Hospital

Viewers were taken by surprise when Blaze abruptly decided to join Miguel Morez on tour in General Hospital. Jacqueline Grace Lopez, who portrays Blaze, was equally caught off guard by this sudden exit. Lopez first appeared as the singer in November 2022. After her initial storyline concluded in April 2023, she made a return in September for a more substantial plotline, which came to a swift end in the August 14, 2024, episode.

“Not gonna lie, this goodbye hurts,” Lopez expressed in a social media statement. “I think because I didn’t see it coming. Spending almost two years with this group, you start to feel like part of the fabric. I’m so grateful to Frank [Valentini, GH’s executive producer] for asking me back. I am grateful to everyone I got to tell stories with, both in front and behind the camera. This cast and crew work so hard and have taught me so much. Jobs come and go, but it’s the people you miss. I’m definitely going to miss this bunch.” Lopez also shared numerous photos and videos of her beloved cast and crew in her Instagram post.

The actress felt a deep sense of pride for the representation she brought to daytime television. “I’ve mentioned that as a brown girl, it’s so hard to see ourselves in media, period,” Lopez noted. “To have writers introduce Latiné story elements because of my character? Even adding a Latiné last name to my character’s name? Getting onscreen family and backstory as a non-contract actor? Being a part of the opening titles? Turning a 10-episode part into almost two years? Babyyy, she done did that! Sometimes we have to be the change we don’t see.”

Lopez expressed heartfelt gratitude to the loyal fans. “My heart is so full,” she declared. “Especially fans that embraced Blaze’s journey as a gay woman and formed community around each other as a result. Y’all got me through some moments. I poured myself into this story because I knew it was going to matter. I just didn’t know how much. You have humbled me, reminding me the need for feeling seen onscreen is absolutely universal to all marginalized communities. I learned that through Allie. Through You. Thank you for sharing your stories, your words of encouragement, and for the generous gifts! Know I carry all of that with me always. I hope I did right by you. That’s all I wanted to do.

“Ultimately, my joy in this work is to help people feel seen,” Lopez concluded. “And for that reason alone, this chapter of Blaze was an absolute gift. It feels so sudden, but I have to trust in timing. Heading out of Port Charles with nothing but gratitude. Thank you, GH.”