Steve Burton fired: ‘General Hospital’ star out after refusing COVID-19 vaccine
Global News
Longtime 'General Hospital' actor Steve Burton follows costar Ingo Rademacher, who left the show a day earlier because he didn't want COVID-19 vaccination.
Longtime General Hospital star Steve Burton was fired from the soap opera on Tuesday after he refused to get vaccinated for COVID-19, which is a mandate for all actors on the show.
Burton, a fan favourite, had been a staple on the soap since 1992 as character Jason Morgan (previously Jason Quartermaine) — with the exception of a brief hiatus from 2013 to 2017, when he had a multi-year arc on The Young and the Restless.
The actor, 51, confirmed his departure on Instagram.
“I know there’s been a lot of rumours and speculation about me and General Hospital, and I wanted you to hear it from me personally,” said Burton in a brief video post. “Unfortunately, General Hospital has let me go because of the vaccine mandate.”
He said that he applied for an exemption for medical or religious reasons, but was denied. Burton tested positive for COVID-19 in August and had seemingly recovered, and he said at the time that he was “exposed at work.”
“This is also about personal freedom to me,” he said. “I don’t think anybody should lose their livelihood over this.”
“Maybe one day, if these mandates are lifted, I can return and finish my career as Jason Morgan,” said the two-time Emmy winner. “That would be an honour. If not, I’m going to take this amazing experience, move forward and be forever grateful.”
