Last Friday on General Hospital, Peter August shot in the direction of Jason Morgan, triggering a tunnel collapse that appeared to bury Jason. His body hasn’t been found, leading fans to wonder about his future. Rumors have been swirling for months about Steve Burton’s status with the show. Now the actor is addressing it.
Steve Burton Speaks Out
Burton issued a statement via his Instagram account. “I know there have been a lot of rumors and speculations about be and General Hospital and I wanted you to hear it from me personally,” began the actor. “Unfortunately, General Hospital has let me go because of the vaccine mandate. I did apply for my medical and religious exemptions. Both of those were denied, which hurts. But this is also about personal freedom to me. I don’t think anyone 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. I love it there, I grew up there.”
The actor went on to speak well of the future and that one day, if the mandates are lifted he can return and finish his career as Jason Morgan. “That would be an honor,” he shared. You can view his entire statement below.
Last July, numerous media outlets reported that The Walt Disney Co., which owns ABC, was issuing a mandate that its employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The mandate applies to salaried and non-union hourly employees. The fallout of non-compliance already affected the cast of General Hospital, which is owned by Disney/ABC. Ingo Rademacher, who has been very vocal against vaccine mandates, had his last airdate on November 22, 2021.
“At The Walt Disney Company, the safety and well-being of our employees during the pandemic has been and continues to be a top priority,” read a statement from the company last summer. “Toward that end, and based on the latest recommendations of scientists, health officials and our own medical professionals that the COVID-19 vaccine provides the best protection against severe infection, we are requiring that all salaried and non-union hourly employees in the U.S. working at any of our sites be fully vaccinated.”
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Other major companies that have either adopted a similar vaccine mandate include Facebook, Twitter, Google, The Washington Post, Lyft, and Uber.
GH co-star Nancy Lee Grahn has taken to Twitter to share her views on the importance of a mandated vaccine. “I am very proud to work on the ONLY Daytime Soap that has required that all performers, staff and crew be vaccinated,” Grahn tweeted in early October. “@GeneralHospital continues to lead with integrity.”
In early September, Grahn expressed her support to “the powers that be” at Disney/ABC for taking what she feels are the appropriate measures. “Thank you @valentinifrank, Dominick Nuzzi, @Disney & @ABCTV for following the science and taking ALL possible measures to ensure the safety of the entire @GeneralHospital cast and crew. Very grateful to be working with all of you. Today is a good day for #GH.”
General Hospital (GH) airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Port Charles, check out all the latest that’s been posted on GH spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.
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