After 30 years, Steve Burton has been fired from General Hospital for refusing the Covid-19 vaccination. Burton confirmed this in a video on his Instagram.
“I wanted you to hear it from me personally,” Burton said. “Unfortunately, General Hospital has let me go because of the vaccine mandate. I did apply for my medical and religious exemptions, and both of those were denied. Which, you know, hurts. But this is also about personal freedom to me.” Burton went on to say that he is grateful for his long career on the show, and he would be happy to return if the vaccine mandates are lifted.
Presently, according to Variety, the General Hospital set requires vaccinations for Zone A, which consists of the actors and all who are present on set when the actors aren’t wearing masks. Burton is the second actor to be let go of the long-running soap opera this year. Ingo Rademacher, who portrayed the character Jasper Jax, was let go from the show for refusing the vaccine. Rademacher was also fired for remarks that were deemed transphobic.
Burton has portrayed the character, Jason Morgan, on General Hospital since 1991. His character was originally named Jason Quartermaine, but the character underwent a name and personality change when a car accident caused brain damage resulting in memory loss. The character’s father Alan Quartermaine was portrayed by Stuart Damon who left the show in 2007 and died earlier this year. Another former General Hospital actor, Jay Pickett, also died this year.
Soap operas are known for having different actors portray the same character for a variety of reasons, and Jason Morgan has been one of those characters in the past. It’s unknown whether that will happen again or if the character will be written off the show.
What are your thoughts on this? Should General Hospital actor Steve Burton have gotten the vaccine? Is General Hospital infringing on his freedom? Give your thoughts in the comments.