‘General Hospital’ Shocker! Jacqueline Grace Lopez Exits as Blaze: ‘I Didn’t See It Coming’
Jacqueline Grace Lopez has confirmed that she’s leaving General Hospital. The actor, who plays Blaze (aka Allie) on the ABC soap opera, revealed her departure on Instagram on Wednesday, August 14, noting that she “didn’t see it coming.” Lopez has been part of the General Hospital cast since 2022.
Lopez’s exit comes just one day after Blaze was dumped by Kristina Corinthos-Davis (Kate Mansi) in the Tuesday, August 13 episode. Blaze, a singer, was encouraged to go on tour with Miguel Morez (Ricky Martin) following the breakup and she ultimately decided to go. This now seems to have been the character’s official exit from the series.
“Not gonna lie, this goodbye hurts,” Lopez wrote in her lengthy Instagram caption on August 14. “I think because I didn’t see it coming. That and when you spend almost two years with this group, you start to feel like part of the fabric.” She went on to thank members of the General Hospital team.
“I’m so grateful to Frank [Valentini, executive producer] for asking me back,” she continued. “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. I’ve mentioned that as a brown girl, it’s so hard to see ourselves in media, period. 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.”
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Lopez then sent a big thank you to the soap’s loyal fans.
“GH FANS!!! My heart is so full. 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,” Lopez said. “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.”
While Lopez admits that her departure “feels so sudden,” she’s grateful for her time on the show. “Ultimately, my joy in this work is to help people feel seen,” the caption 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.”
This is the latest of a string of surprising General Hospital casting developments in recent weeks. Emme Rylan’s Lulu was recently recast, Bryan Craig is coming back as the late Morgan Corinthos, and Jonathan Jackson and Rick Hearst are both returning.
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I would much rather she stay on as Blaze than Eva Larue stay on as her mother. Her character is so much more likeable and believable. I had hoped that when Blaze left to go on tour it would only be temporary. The only reason I find something like this to be acceptable is if the actress that plays Blaze had wanted to leave, which apparently isn't the case.As it is, I don't like what GH is doing with the Kristina character wanting Ava dead because she holds her responsible for "her" baby's death when she should know that Ava wasn't any more responsible for what happened than she herself was. Now they are taking from Kristina the one good relationship she has ever been in.
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What is going on at GH??? It seems like scorched earth. It would be one thing if all these exits seemed organic to the plots, but they don’t. They never said a word after Austin was shot, Finn leaves his daughter behind forever???, the baby that held so much plot promise is dead(so sad as well), Spencer not coming back (not GH’s decision), and I’m forgetting some exits too. And now one of the more exciting, fresh feeling plots—Blaze and Kristina gone. There is something afoot there that almost makes me worry for the future of the show. Where is it going??? Making one mistake has happened before (Alan’s death, for example), but so many changes at once? It’s too much and I’m getting depresssed about it.
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There have been alot of changes behind the scenes like new writers. I think this has led to alot of storyline changes and actor changes. Notice how quickly storyline are moving these days?! Even Steve Burton said on his podcast how much he likes the new scripts. This may be why they are bringing back old characters
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I will sadly miss Blaze on G.H. She seems to be a very sweet person and I really appreciate her on G.H. Please bring her back ‼️‼️🤗
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Didn't care for Blaze or her horrible Mother and the storyline was so forced.
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I totally agree with you.
Take this whole storyline and they just moved blaze out.
What’s worse is there keeping her mother that makes no sense.
I’m shocked how dark General house it’ll be has become don’t like the new writing.
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