Steve Burton Confirms ‘General Hospital’ Exit Over COVID Vaccine Mandate
The day after Ingo Rademacher’s last episode aired, General Hospital fans now know that Steve Burton’s out as well.
Burton, who has played Jason Morgan since 1991 (on-and-off, including a presumed death), shared the news in a video he posted on Instagram on November 23. “I know there’s been a lot of rumors and speculation about me and General Hospital, and I wanted you to hear it from me personally. Unfortunately, General Hospital has let me go because of the vaccine mandate,” he said. “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. I don’t think anybody should lose their livelihood over this.
“But with that being said, you know me, I’ll always be grateful for my time at General Hospital,” he continued. “I love it there. I grew up there. … And I believe that when one door closes, multiple doors open, it’s always been my perspective, so I am excited to see what the future brings.”
Burton also said he’d be up to returning to General Hospital “maybe one day, if these mandates are lifted.” Watch the video below for his full statement.
View this post on Instagram
Burton said he didn’t know when his final episode would be airing (or if it already has), but currently, Jason is missing after a tunnel collapse.
The backlash from the cast about cast members against the COVID vaccine mandate began in August. Then, Burton announced that he and Bradford Anderson (Damian Spinelli) had to postpone their Stone Cold and the Jackal August tour because Burton tested positive for COVID. “Long story short, I was exposed at work,” he said in a video shared to Instagram, later giving an update in which he said “all is well.”
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C
Being a healthcare worker for 31 years I am tired of hearing people fight the mandate! I HAD to take a flu shot or lose my job! COVID is much more contagious and deadly than the flu. So get it or lose your job. Your choice
18 8
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O
So, you don't believe in natural immunity? It can be dangerous for people w natural immunity to also get the vax. Many healthy young men are having severe adverse reactions and dying after the vax. It's being censored from news in US, but if you get off of Google platforms and TV, it's being reported everywhere, especially among athletes.
This is not to say that the virus is not also dangerous, but if more people had been treated early with the old, cheap, safe drug, the severity of cases and deaths would be FAR lower. African countries have almost no COVID and a large percentage of people are on HCQ for malaria prophylaxis and/ir IVM for various things including viruses and cancer.
10 7
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B
Natural immunity is not as protective as the vaccine.
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P
Natura immunity has proven to be more effective than the vaccine! Get your facts straight! The US govt has closed their eyes to that fact!
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R
“Many healthy young men are having severe adverse reactions and dying after the vax.”
That is an absolute LIE! Many, many thousands of people have died of COVID, not the vaccine. Where in the world do you get your facts? Oh, right. Fox News, Newsmax, OAN, QAnon. You believe anything straight from the jackel’s mouth.
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O
GOOD. This makes me respect Steve B even more. Frank Valentini completely ruined Jason/JaSam anyway, just like he's ruined Willow and a whole host of other characters. GH has been a trash heap for years now, ever since he took over. That whole Sonny amnesia storyline was ridiculous. lol Without Jason and Jax, who's going to care about one of the last daytime soaps standing when it's a dying genre?
16 6
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G
Why would anyone give up a job like this over a vaccine mandate? Everyone talks about personal freedom but I remember having to get my daughter vaccinated in order for her to attend a public school. I didn't want her to get vaccinated. But I followed the mandate because it's there for a reason. There's a LOT of actors out of work these days and I'm sure they'll find a replacement for him. No one is that valuable in the entertainment industry. #getvaccinated
17 9
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O
Natural immunity
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R
Non-existent!
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B
I think the mandate is wrong! One more of our rights taken away!!!
We haven’t taken the shot but we are retired!!! It’s just a bad situation all around.
18 11
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R
We are retired, too. We’ve gotten both vaccines and the booster. Being retired does NOT make you immune! If anything, it means you are older and in more risk of dying if you get COVID. It’s a bad situation “all around” because of folks like you who won’t participate in helping our country overcome this virus.
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P
You got shot but you can still get and give the virus to others so even after shot your not immune ..but if you have the virus your natural immunity kicks in..,so who is helping overcome ?
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Natural immunity is a joke. If it exists at all, which is highly suspect, it is short-lived. You actually think that by getting COVID you are helping our country overcome the virus? That’s insane.
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C
Well, I love Steve and personally upset about his departure. Although I do believe in choices, I also believe we need to care of each others. Soap stars work in close proximity with others and everyones health should be protected. I support the mandate. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over loosing Steve again and fear this will be the last run for his role as Jason Morgan. Good Luck!
14 7
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P
He states he had Covid which means he has natural immunity which is more powerful than the vaccine. Unfortunately the us govt has not listened to the real experts in the field of natural immunity. I admire him for not caving in to the mandate.
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R
“Natural immunity” is a fallacy. If it exists at all, it is short-lived. The vaccines are FAR more powerful than the fallacy. It is YOU, not the government, who has not listened to the real experts.
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G
They need to get rid of minor role, self serving, troublemaker Grahn. I and many others will now quit watching general hospital because of the way the vaccine mandate has been handled by y’all. Goodbye
16 9
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O
Well if it was mandated it’s only fair that they enforce it for all cast members no matter what their status and/or fan base. It’s a difficult situation because I agree that people should have a choice but I guess the safety of the rest of the cast is also important and if you don’t want to comply you pay the consequences.
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O
I don't know the history of all of it, but it sounds like he has had the virus and, therefore, natural immunity which is better than any vaccines. It can also be dangerous for people who have natural immunity to get the vax. Definitely a difficult situation, but I respect his decision.
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R
You are so wrong! The vaccines are far better than “natural immunity,” which may not exist at all - or if it does, only short-term. And “dangerous” for someone to get vaccinated if they have so-called “natural immunity”? That is an outright lie. Listen to the doctors and scientists, not Fox News, Newsmax, OAN, or QAnon. God gave you a brain, use it!
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G
What a jerk.
17 14
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O
How is he a jerk for not getting the vaccine? Unlike the actor who plays Jax he hasn't behaved badly over it as far as I know. Or has he? Hopefully ABC will let him return once such mandates about this aren't a thing anymore.
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P
The only jerk was / is Nancy . He caught covid at work probably from a vaccinated person you do know they get it & spread & yes die from it too. But once you have it you have more immunity to it than the dam shot. So I stand behind Steve there is NO REASON for him to get the stupid shot. If anyone should fired it should be Nancy
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No reason? How about keeping his job? And how can you possibly make the statement, “He caught COVID at work probably from a vaccinated person”? That’s really reaching. If anything, he probably spread it to his co-workers since he obviously doesn’t care anything about them or anyone else, only his own selfish self.
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G
And neither does he have the right to put anyone else’s body at risk. Don’t want to take the vaccine? Stay home. The only right answer is the scientifically proven one.
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B
“Losted” is not a word.
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G
We’re nowhere near natural or herd immunity. There are two ways to get there from where we are today - a whole lot more people need to get vaccinated, or a whole lot more people need to die.
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O
Science deniers are the reason we're still in this pandemic. Fire them all!
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G
I think he is a fool & an idiot! He didn’t “ lose his livelihood “ here. He willingly chose this hill to die on. Stupid!
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O
I love you so much I em not married I do not have a boyfriend Stephanie nicole Payton I like to see you
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O
How absurd to let an actor go who had a great story line going for years because of a virus that has proven to infect those who have been vaccinated as well as those vaccinated. Burton should come back and be vindicated by all the recent news.
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P
I am fully vaccinated and still had COVID and everyone I know that was vaccinated now has the new stain but the ones not vaccinated did not get the virus
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R
I agree no one should lose their livelihood standing up for what they believe in please post what your up to and if you go back because until that time i willl no longer be watching GH
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R
That's an understatement; Burton's attitude being a MAJOR. . .turn off👏👏. Truth be told, I have been turned off by his presence, ever since his return led to Billy Miller's dismissal👎👎👎. Recast the role? NOT a supporter of that😬😬.
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B
Burton would rather infect the GH cast when he has Covid over and over than get the vaccine!!
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G
GET THE SHOT..AMEN
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B
Get the vaccine, problem solved. Mandates WORK. That's something you ungrateful, disloyal, dangerous, clueless cowards BETTER get. TIRED of your b.s. attitudes. God almighty.
8 8
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P
He has natural immunity! He had Covid! New York needs to get with the facts!!
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Natural immunity is a joke. YOU need to “get with the facts.”
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C
Don’t get your biological information from any media outlet or political party, right or left, or any agency emboldened to them. Look at medical research. MRNA vaccines have only been tested on lab animals prior to the rush to produce a vaccine that everyone was originally told would prevent Covid and you could take off your masks only to find out you cold still get and spread the disease and supposedly not die from it. Have any of you been tested for antibodies? If not, how do you know whether you had an asymptomatic case and have natural antibiodies that are protecting you as opposed to the vaccine? Why are they not putting more effort in studying why some people get it and never present with symptoms? Why were the sick never isolated as opposed to locking down healthy people, closing down businesses and destroying peoples livelihoods? Read up on the original SARS virus that was halted with a single case in the US because they paid attention to the outbreak, were prepared and shut it down. What was different? Politics. Shame on everyone who has made this a political battle. The real reason why so many people have died - Prevention never occurred and research practically stopped at an ineffective vaccine.
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R
It will be hard to watch with out you. With Sonny just returning there’s a lot left to see with Sonny,Carly and you. I will watch you on any show you land on. I am glad you stood your grounds. It is your body and no one should tell you what you put in it. ABC has losted one of the Best.Hope they drop this mandate and you come back. All support for you Steve and family.
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I used to like Steve, but this stand on the vaccine is a real turn-off. Other people’s health should be important…. And this is a completely selfish stand. Recast the role!
14 19
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O
Natural immunity from previous infection. It can be dangerous to get the vax also. Pumping up the immune system is causing severe adverse reactions.
12 8
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So, so wrong and dangerous!
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O
He’s a tool! Religious exemption, so freaking ridiculous. He’s another dump lover who doesn’t give a poo about coworkers or anyone else (including fans). He’s all about himself, he was the first time he left and is this time.
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He has natural immunity!!
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He does not!!!
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