There wasn’t a dry eye in the house after General Hospital viewers watched the Thursday June 27th episode. In it, Finn (Michael Easton) comes to say goodbye to his daughter Violet (Jophielle Love), who is now in the temporary custody of his brother Chase (Josh Swickard), before he heads out to rehab.

The episode also would be Michael Easton’s last with the ABC soap opera as Finn was written-off the canvas. Fans of the soap, watched the heartbreaking Finn and Violet scenes, and following its airing, both Love and Easton shared touching posts on their Instagram accounts accompanied by photos.

Easton shared, “This is the hardest goodbye of all for me. The first picture was taken right after Violet and Finn’s last goodbye. After they said cut, Jophielle Love and I immediately found each other and we hung on like we didn’t want it to end. The last video was taken between scenes on the very first day we met and I remember it like yesterday. Jophielle you are pure magic and you are going to do amazing things in this life. Go forward with rainbows in your heart and know that I will never forget you.”

Photo: MEastonIG

Love (through the writing by her mom) shared: “How do I say good bye ? Michael and Jophielle have been working together on General Hospital for 5 years now ! Over 100 episodes… Today’s scenes were an absolute heartbreak . Jophielle doesn’t lose sight of the possibility of her parents coming back into her GH life … This scene was way too familiar from one she experienced on her first few months on set as her tv mother went through what felt like the same door … saying good bye … and never returning to this day! Poor Violet lost everyone… Jophielle was genuinely very sad … Her chemistry with Michael on set was amazing from day one , as she always insisted to fix his hair before each take as a five years old. Now she is 10 … and … tears were pouring down. It was a very very hard day on set and everyone was tearing up … She managed to get through it all like a pro , …. It was … very emotional and also amazing. Like a grown up scene.”

Photo JLoveIG

In a personal note from Love’s mother it read, “Michael … I speak as a mom today who has been there on set every step of the way , being so thankful for you and for Rebecca Budig’s incredible love and instant connection with Jophielle. There is something to be said about tv families… and even more on a show like General Hospital, where these families have such a real bound as they are part of a long lasting legacy … Like Jophielle does … I really hope you get to come back …. Never say never … we love you Michael and we thank you for everything. See you soon 😘”

Photo: ABC

What did you think of the touching posts and sentiments from Michael and Jophielle and her mom? Share your thoughts in the comment section, but in case you missed it, grab the hankies and watch the emotional goodbye between Finn and Violet below.

 

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Thursday’s June 27th episode of General Hospital featured one of the saddest and most heartbreaking goodbye scenes in recent memory. In story, Finn (Michael Easton) comes to see his young daughter, Violet (Jophielle Love), who is now staying at the Quartermaines, to tell her why he has to leave her and head to rehab to get help for his drinking problem.

In real life, this marked Michael Easton’s final GH episode in the role of Hamilton Finn. The way the exit was positioned in story, Finn has to go away for three months to rehab. Just how the show will explain his continued absence remains to be seen.

Easton’s final scenes were extremely emotional, and we are sure that the audience at home was reduced to tears and reaching for the hankies throughout. When Finn arrives to see Violet, the two share a hug while she’s concerned about his bandaged hand. Violet tells her dad she wants to go home with him, but he explains he is sick and needs to go away on his own to get help to stop drinking.

Courtesy/ABC

With tears streaming down his face, Finn tells Violet that he doesn’t want to leave her, but he has to go and if he doesn’t he won’t get better. He can’t let what happened the other night (when she found him passed out on the floor and bleeding) ever happen again. Violet cries that he thought he was was dead like her Grandpa.

Violet says she can help Finn, as she becomes more and more desperate to not be separated from her father, whom she loves so dear. In tears, Finn tells his daughter, they can take care of each other, and when he is better he can be there for her the way a father is supposed to be.

Courtesy/ABC

As Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard) look on with tears streaming down their faces. Finn and Violet hug one last time before he leaves. As he walks out with Chase to drive him to rehab, a sad Violet looks on.

At the conclusion of the episode, Easton shares his final scenes with Josh Swickard. As brothers Finn and Chase, the two are there for each other in the darkest of times. Remember, they are still grieving the loss of their father. Finn thanks Chase for allowing him to say goodbye to Violet. Chase promises to take good care of her. However, Chase warns Finn to not to take any shortcuts on his way to sobriety and to always think of Violet’s wellbeing.

Courtesy/ABC

It is apparent, the brothers don’t want to say goodbye, but on the count of three, Finn leaves Chase’s car and walks through the door of the rehab facility, while Chase in tears beats the steering wheel before drives away.

What did you think of the Michael Easton’s final GH episode? The goodbye scenes and performances by Michael and Jophielle Love? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

UPDATED: Early Wednesday morning, Michael Easton revealed that he has already taped his final scenes as Hamilton Finn on General Hospital.

The popular actor, who arrived at GH after his enduring run as John McBain on One Life to Live, took to his Instagram and announced his departure from the ABC daytime drama series, following weeks of rumors that he was out at the show. Reportedly, Easton’s final airdate is Thursday, June 27th and the video Easton posted was pre-taped awhile ago.

Standing outside the entrance to the set of General Hospital in what seems to be the wee hours of the morning, Easton shared the following message to his fans: “I’ve always been partial to the Irish Wish goodbye. That’s where you leave the party without actually telling anyone you’re gone. But I thought you all deserved better.”

Photo: MEastonIG

Easton then expressed, “So, I just wanna let you know, I just filmed my final scenes here at General Hospital. I’ve loved every minute that I’ve been here. I want to thank the entire cast and crew for allowing me to share their stage this past 10 years. Most importantly, I wanna thank all of you for the kindness and love you shown me and my family. I won’t ever forget you.”

In an emotional closing, Michael ended his video message, with, “As I walk out here for the last time, and with apologies to the great Lou Gehrig, I feel like the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” Ironically, the former New York Yankees baseball star in Easton’s reference, died of ALS (also known as “Lou Gehrig disease”), which was part of the storyline Michael recently played out on-screen with Finn’s dying father, Gregory, who had the same disease.

Photo: ABC

Michael punctuated his thoughts within the Instagram post with one final goodbye, “Thank you for your kindness. My heart is filled with love and gratitude.”

Currently in story, Finn has lost his sobriety after seven years, and is in the midst of a serious downfall after his father, Gregory passed away and his daughter, Violet (Jophielle Love) has been taken out of his home and has been served a restraining order to not come near her. How will Easton depart GH? Is Finn exiting the Port Charles canvas to get the help he needs?

Clearly, this marks the end of the line for Finn and Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) as they just had it out over his drinking, and with yesterday’s announced return of Jonathan Jackson (Lucky) to GH this summer.

Photo: ABC

Easton’s GH journey started when he took Llanview’s McBain to Port Charles after One Life was canceled. He debuted on the long-running soap in March 13, 2012. However, due to the legal disputes with ownership of the characters from One Life to Live, between ABC and Prospect Park, he had to leave the series. Michael’s last episode as McBain was in March of 2013. Next, General Hospital brought him back as a new character, Silas Clay, in May of 2013. Two years later in 2015, Silas was killed-off.  Easton made one more GH run, this time as Dr. Hamilton Finn which he had been playing since the spring of 2016.

Throughout Easton’s time on General Hospital, he has earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series back in 2018.  Given his recent performances, many suspect that Michael might close his time on GH with another Emmy nomination in 2025.

You can watch Easton’s emotional goodbye below.

Now let us know, what are your thoughts on Michael Easton’s exit from GH? Sad to see him go? How do you think the show will write-off Finn? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

 

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