General Hospital
ABC Asks Judge to Throw Out Ingo Rademacher’s Lawsuit Over Firing for Covid-19 Vaccine Refusal
In an update on the lawsuit between former General Hospital star, Ingo Rademacher and ABC, it appears that the network is asking an L.A. judge to toss out the case citing that Rademacher’s beliefs as related to the vaccine were not ‘religious’ in nature and that he was more than likely going to be written off the daytime drams series, anyway.
As soap fans know, Rademacher was fired from GH back in November of 2021 after his failure to comply with the network’s vaccine mandate. Ingo then sued the network in December of 202, with claims that included: religious and disability discrimination, invasion of privacy, political retaliation, to which ABC argues against.
According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter and court documents they procured from a December 28th, 2022 filing, ABC’s lawyer Steven Marenberg says the vaccine policy was the result of “an extensive deliberative process at Disney,” which included a process for evaluating religious and medical exemptions on a case-by-case basis.
Rademacher had addressed his concerns when he submitted for vaccine exception citing his, “deeply and sincerely held moral belief that my body is endowed by my creator with natural processes to protect me and that its natural integrity cannot ethically be violated by the administration of artificially created copies of genetic material, foreign to nature and experimental.”
However, the network cites that Ingo had stonewalled the employee relations department during the review process and refused to give details about his religious views, claiming the questioning was discriminatory and a violation of his civil rights.
In the filing, ABC lawyer Marenberg, added, “Although Rademacher provided little information to ABC in the interactive process, what limited information he did provide, revealed that his opposition to vaccination was rooted in secular, philosophical/moral beliefs … to summarize succinctly, at no point did Rademacher mention that his beliefs are based on, related to, or even loosely connected to any religious text or teaching.” The network argues that this was more about a lifestyle choice for not adhering to the vaccine mandate than a religious one.
ABC also noted that at the time he was terminated, Rademacher was under a three-year contract. Marenberg argues that Ingo was not “assured” of a full three-years, since ABC had the right to cancel the contract in six-month increments as long as it gave the actor six weeks notice. It also required Ingo to comply with ABC’s policies.
he filing also claims that in July 2021, Chris Van Etten, (co-head writer, GH) was preparing to lay out long-term story plans and that he identified Jax, among several characters who would be or might possibly be written off the show. The attorney cites: “At that time, Jax’s role in the ongoing storyline was negligible and Van Etten did not see a role for Jax going forward.”
What do you think of ABC’s argument in the legal case against Rademacher? Do you think the case will be eventually dismissed? Comment below.
I agree
Ingo’s an arrogant ass. He should have been fired for his trans retweet, and then for his asinine and disgusting comments comparing covid vaccine status with what the Jewish people went through during the Holocaust. What he really needs is a brain.
Well put!!! Especially the arrogant ass description!
Thanks. But I think it was an understatement. 😉
As CVE alludes to, there was little need for Jax on the canvas. As Nina was committed to Sonny at that point, there was a chem-test with Britt but that fizzled. There was enough “talk-to” characters on the show that it was necessary to keep Jax on for Joss.
You’re not critical for story when you easily be written out in one-two episodes.
Don’t go away mad – just go away.
the network is overstepping in the decision about what makes a stance religious or not. Religious beliefs don’t need scripture to back them up. This harkens back to the dubious task of making prisoners who desire kosher meals to quote the scriptures that describe it. It makes science of something mystical.
If you cannot name the religion that objects to the vaccine, then it is not a religious objection. It is, however, a personal morality exemption that you are seeking, which was not included in the list of possible exemptions from the vaccine.
Please; Ingo didn’t want to take it and used religion exemption as an excuse like many tried. The vaccines don’t even contain fetal cells. He chose not to take the vaccine which was his right; the company chose to require it which was their right. Done. I’ll tell you what though; any “religious” person who is as bigoted and ignorant as he is, a German comparing the Holocaust victims to having to take a vaccine,and mocking trans people, shouldn’t be suing on religious “discrimination.” He obviously doesn’t even know the meaning of the word.
The character is needed for his daughter. But, the role could be played by another competent actor. I was hoping for the long ago rumor that Trevor St. John was going to take over the part. He would have added an interesting dimension to Jax.
TSJ would’ve been a good Jax. Regardless of who plays Jax – other than a talk to for Joss – what is there for him to do? They’ve got the corporate stuff covered with the Qs and the Cassadines. Romantically, who do you pair him with? Selina would be interesting but Jax has been so anti-mob through the years it wouldn’t work. Sasha would be like robbing the cradle. Jordan would be a good option but the recent chem test with Finn is a clue of where that’s going.
That leaves Carly. The right actor could make that work and would be better than the snooze fest that os Carly and Drew.
OG Steve
I was thinking Carly or Nina, not too many in his age group.
Lew S
I would have liked him better than the conniving jerk he’s playing on Y&R.
I totally agree! It seems like he’s playing Todd/Victor from OLTL.
Yes! Trevor would have been great!
I don’t agree with the decision to mandate vaccines for this virus. Ingo has the right to refuse the vaccine in my opinion. I will not watch General Hospital anymore because of this.
He does have the right to refuse as does Disney/ABC have the right to protect their employees. He chose not to follow their protocol.
It’s taken you 1.25 years to make that decision? This is nothing new. Though I will absolutely agree with you. Ingo does have the right to refuse the vaccine. It’s not even your opinion. It’s a human’s right to have autonomy over one’s own body. But there are consequences. And the consequence was losing his employment. It’s like when people claim “free speech” over something. Free speech prevents the gov’t from acting. It doesn’t prevent the consequences such as being fired from a job.
Thank you!! Finally someone gets it!
Well then whats the reason the fired Steve Burton ( Jason)? He also got fired for not taking the vax.
Steve didn’t burn his bridges behind him though, didn’t sue them, and didn’t make any bigoted insults towards his cast members on the way out. That’s the difference between him and Ingo. And besides that, Jason is far more essential to GH than Jax ever was. You can bet your soul that Jason will be back one day. And it won’t be a recast… because nobody’s going to believe Susan Moore had triplets!!
Steve is about to show up in Salem again, but Days tapes 6 months in advance, so he might already be done over there. Don’t see his character Harris Michaels being long term, but he’s a big part of the storyline that was left in a “cliffhanger” on the second season of “Beyond Salem”.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if Steve ended up being a big part of “February sweeps” on both Days and GH??
At this point, May Sweeps would be the best you can hope for – GH is filming for February this week and is probably written through March or early April (60th anniversary).
Jason will eventually return, but if it happens look for it much later in 2023 or after. Before then, we’re likely to have either a new Lulu or Lucky, a recast Nikolas, a temporary return by Tracy, Lucy being found and maybe perhaps a Luke Spencer alive reveal as well.
Odds are that Lucy, Luke, and Jason are all being held prisoner in the same location. Unless there’s another Cassadine dungeon that’s located somewhere other than their private island off the coast of Greece. They could tie all that in with a Nikolas recast, because the island is where he’s likely to end up if he has to suddenly leave Port Charles in the next couple of weeks, which seems to be the case.
I don’t miss him (Jax or Ingo) at all. GH doesn’t need the character and he did very little while he was there any time he’s been brought back.
He has a right to his beliefs but so does ABC.
I think Jax is right. This is still supposed to be a free country (for now) and he had the right to choose. Doctors and nurses in real life were not fired over the vaccine. The people that are so worried about it should wear the stupid masks. Plus he was under contract. Whether or not he may have been written out is a moot point. I wish Steve Burton had sued too.
Well, it’s Ingo, not Jax. And it is a free country. He had a right to choose and ABC/Disney had a right to choose. It’s a free country for both sides of an issue, not just the side you agree with. He was under contract, but I’m assuming there was a provision in the contract that covers these types of things. As for your “Doctors and nurses in real life were not fired” first, is not accurate and second your usage of “in real life” and the name “Jax” makes me wonder if you are confused… As for Steve Burton suing, why do you wish that? He obviously read his contract and understood the consequences of his actions. Ingo just wanted to be a troublemaker.
Correct, it is a free country and so ABC/Disney is free to set safety measures in its workplace. Steve and Ingo were free to follow those safety measures or choose to look for work elsewhere. And that’s what happened. By declining the vaccine, they made themselves ineligible to keep working on “GH.” That’s how a free society works. There’s no guarantee of a job at any time, and personal decisions have consequences.
Doctors and nurses were fired in real life if they refused. Craziness since the vaccine didn’t stop the spread or keep people from getting the virus.
I’m not getting into his weird personal beliefs about anything other than the covid vaccine. He is absolutely right that his civil rights were violated by trying to force him to do something he did not agree with. I am surprised Steve Burton hasn’t joined him in this lawsuit. Some would call this poetic justice by stating his racist beliefs, but I would actually like to see him win this.
There were absolutely no civil rights violations. First of all, there were no government agencies involved in his firing. This was a Disney corporate policy. You can argue as to whether or not that policy was justified, but you can’t call it a “rights” violation, because there’s no such thing as “Disney civil rights” (or any other corporation).
No. His civil rights were not violated by trying to force him. If they actually forced him, that’s another story. By the way, I’m a lawyer. I’m assuming you’re not. Keep your legal opinions out of your argument unless you are a lawyer. And if you are one, well based on your comment, you’re not a good one.
Except no one forced him to do anything. He was free to sacrifice his employment to follow his conscience, and that’s what he chose to do. That’s how freedom works, and then choices have consequences. His civil rights were completely unaffected. The sad part is burned so many bridges for no reason. As the new information shows (and was obvious from the lack of story line and screen time once Nixon Falls ended), Jax was on the verge of being written out anyway.
Just leave him alone please stop it! He chose to not take the jab ok ! How does that have anything to do with you??? Nothing stop it ! Now think of something else to drive yourselves crazy
I really hope the judge does throw it out.
My body my choice! There are treatments for covid that this company and government refuse to acknowledge. Anybody fired for this over reaching mandate should get their jobs back.
The legality of the vaccination mandate was simple. Covid 19 was a dangerous world pandemic that claimed lives. ABC had a legal requirement to protect everyone connected to the show. Religious objection is a belief that is constitutionally not sound. Ones belief doesn’t protect the liberty of life which was being protected.
Plus his role was questionable and limited to writing a path forward. His charecter wasn’t relevant or needed
Well it’s kind of like abortions doesn’t protect the murdered babies! The babies right to a life doesn’t matter to some people! Which is a sick society we live in!
Good grief Charlie Brown… these are totally different subjects!
I say Go Ingo!! Government and corporate overreach during the plandemic was horrific and tyrannical. No one has ANY right … Legal or ethical … to force medical procedures onto any person! Bodily autonomy is our right, as is our privacy and nondisclosure of medical conditions. At a time when people are screaming “My Body My Choice” when it comes to murdering children in the womb, it is highly hypocritical that the “My Body My Choice” mantra is not adhered to regarding these untested, unproven “vaccines”.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.
Photo: Hallmark
Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”
In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.
It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.
Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.
You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.
So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.
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General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?
On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.
As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.
Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?
Courtesy/ABC
Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.
BROTHERLY LOVE?
Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”
With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”
BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE
Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”
So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair
After the Wednesday, April 29 episode of General Hospital, it’s clear outside interference and other circumstances are set to blow Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) marriage sky high, as Michael (Rory Gibson) reveals his plans to entrap Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and use her relationship with Chase to do it!
In story, Michael dropped by unexpectedly to Carly’s (Laura Wright). A plotting Michael reveals his plan to nudge Willow and Chase into having an affair. Michael hopes it would create both a political and personal scandal, where Willow would lose her seat in congress. In the scenario, she would be having an affair with her ex-husband, while taking care of her supposed disabled husband, Drew (Cameron Mathison), who cannot speak and is confined to a wheelchair, which in turn will look horrible for Willow’s character.
Carly asked does he really want to destroy his cousin, Brook Lynn’s life in the process? Michael goes in on Chase’s holier than thou attitude, and says he is going to set-up the circumstances that would lead Chase and Willow to betray their spouses, and hit the sheets together. Michael swears to Carly what the two of them do is up to them, but he’s going to go on the offense with this.
MICHAEL HAS BACK-UP
Later, Jacinda (Paige Herschell) is talking with Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) at Crimson and how much she dislikes Willow because of what she has done to Michael. Just then, Michael shows up and tells Jacinda privately, he’s figured out a way to fight Willow. Looks like Jacinda might work with Michael to bring down Willow and use Chase as the person to do it!
At the hospital, Lucas (Van Hansis) tells Josslyn (Eden McCoy) that Carly is cheating on Jack, but he doesn’t know with who. Josslyn suddenly flashes back to the moment she found her mother harboring a fugitive, Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart), in her attic, and as figured out that her mother is sleeping with him. She heads out.
Courtesy/ABC
BRENNAN IS ABOUT TO LEARN ABOUT CARLY
Next thing you know, Josslyn has showed up inside Jack’s (Chris McKenna) hotel room at the Metro Court and when he enters his room, he is shocked to find her there. He lays into her for not keeping his distance and that Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) will have no problem killing her if he knows she’s WSB. Josslyn fires back that he is only concerned about that because his relationship with her mother depends on her being safe. But then, she lays the boom, and tells Jack, Well, you’re too late. You already lost her.”
LULU GETS A GLIMPSE OF CASSIUS’ TEMPER
In addition, Lulu (Alexa Havins) sees a different side of “Nathan.” Since she is unaware that the man before her is his twin, Cassius Fasion (Ryan Paevey), he tells her that Rocco (Finn Carr) blabbed that he shot Cullum to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), and now he thinks they should send him away to stop him from talking to everyone else. This concerns Lulu, who rails at Nathan for telling her what to do with her son and that she isn’t going to abandon him. With “Nathan’s” outburst at her on the matter, will she finally get a clue this is not the man she thinks it is?
So, what do you think of Michael’s plan to push Willow and Chase into an affair? Will it work or backfire? Do you think Joss will reveal that Valentin is the man sleeping with Carly to Brennan, which will send him in a rage? Will Lulu continue to be clueless about “Nathan?” Weigh-in via the comment section below. But first, take a look at the GH video tease for today’s April 30 episode.
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