General Hospital
Kirsten Storms Clarifies How Her Extended Break From ‘General Hospital’ Differs from Chad Duell’s Exit
This week, General Hospital fans learned directly from Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones), when she posted a video message on her Instagram, that she had made the move from Los Angeles to Tennessee to be closer to her daughter, Harper with whom she shares with Brandon Barash (ex-GH, DAYS). In doing so, Kirsten is taking an extended hiatus from the ABC daytime drama series most likely till the end of the year.
Storms also shared, she already taped her last episode before her break, and that she has full intent to return to her beloved role as Maxie Jones, and has the full support of the series executive producer, Frank Valentini. In addition, Kirsten hinted at a big storyline to play out for Maxie in the interim.
After her post went live, and she received numerous comments in its threads, Storms made sure to clarify several points that fans were inquiring about. One in particular, about how when Chad Duell decided to step away from the soap in the role of Michael Corinthos, that he related that he was grateful for Frank Valentini, leaving the open for him to return down the line, However, the role of Michael was eventually recast with Rory Gibson.
Photo: ChadDuellIG
The fan had commented that Frank Valentini, “also told Chad he could return when he was ready and we see what happened just a few weeks later. I hope you return because no one else can come close to your performance as Maxie.”
Storms responded, “For the record, Chad *chose* to completely leave the show. No one at ABC gave away ‘his’ job – he told them he didn’t want it anymore when he said he wasn’t going to resign his contract. I’m still under contract and have every intention of returning when the break (I was fortunate enough to be granted) is over.”
Photo: ABC
In addition, Kirsten also shut down commentary on Valentini, expressing, “People assume they know things that have happened on set/with ‘GH’ actors because they read some anonymous blog post. Then, somehow Frank gets blamed for a fictional situation that a random person (not associated with ‘GH’) most likely made up as they were typing it. Frank does not come on social media and start throwing people under the bus to clear up these undeserved – and often incredibly mean – lies. He could absolutely throw shade at actors that made major mistakes or caused problems. Instead he works to make sure ‘General Hospital’ continues to air.”
On Monday, Storms in a very happy space explained in her message, “I’m very excited to be making Tennessee my home! I can’t wait to return to ‘GH,’ once Harper and I are settled in our new town. I plan on documenting as much of this new journey on my social media as I can. It’s always been a dream of mine to move to a place like this; it’s hard to believe it’s really happening.”
So, do you truly think there is concern that GH would not allow Kirsten to return when she has things settled in Tennessee with her personal life? When she clearly had full support from Frank Valentini and the soap? Do you think GH is about to serve up a storyline where there will be an interim Maxie, or do you suspect something else will go down that takes or keeps Maxie from interacting on the canvas? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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This is why I hate social media: people feel the need to keyboard warrior for someone they don’t even know and spew more hatred/negativity into this world.
What Scott (ATWT fan) said.
I am happy to hear these accommodations are possible at GH. I love Ms..Storms as Maxie, yes, but I can accept another actor in the role for an interim period. That is part of daytime drama. A cross-country move is a big deal. Wishing her best of luck.
If only they’d make the same accommodation for Evan Hofer( Dex). He is irreplaceable and shouldn’t be recast but he needs to come back.
Evan Hofer was fine with them killing off Dex so it’s time to sing a different tune.
That was a completely missed opportunity. Dex should have been AJ’s son and that was his reason for agreeing to take Sonny down. That would have tied him to the major family on the show and give him a purpose other than boffing Josslyn three times a week.
In retrospect, I am glad it did not play out that way. All we would have had was yet another dead Quartermaine and there have been more than enough of those in the last 20 years.
DeX came as an unknown young grifter and left the same way.
I do not have social media or want it. I can’t wait for Kristen’s return, but do not need updates, just hope she just enjoys her time away and gets everything done that she is hoping to do.
There are too many people who have this belief that they NEED to be contrary despite the fact that they know nothing and want to blame people they’ve never met. Until I saw this article, I did not equate the 2 situations (KS & CD) at all. KS made it obvious why and kudos for her for being kind enough to respond. I wish people would figure things out instead of just going to the worst case scenario
Let’s face it. A lot of soap fans can be annoying. I can only think that it’s due to the fact that they’ve watched their soaps and the characters who inhabit that soapy and dramatic terrain with its peaks and valleys, for over a decade 5 days a week. After awhile they think of them as family and not only do they become overly protective of the actors who play these characters, they feel some kind of ownership.
A decade? There are 6 decade GH fans, who have watched 5 days a week for more than 58 yrs. That would be just about 13500 episodes.
Case in point. Thank you.
Oh Harry ! It’s all pretty funny.
Whatever makes her happy and healthy I think I’ve heard enough sadness concerning daytime actors.
I hope thats accurate. Lets hear from other actors let go to hear their stories and get confirmation from Chad that this is accurate. Hope she got that in writing. I read every 12 wks they can let actors go. Is this true?
Chad made it crystal clear that he was leaving. Not taking a break. LEAVING. A simple online search will confirm that for you. Not everything is a conspiracy theory.
Newer performers are on 13-week cycles when their option may not be picked up. Someone of Storms seniority may be on a 26-week cycle (although I have no insights into contract lengths).
We don’t need Duell’s confirmation. His contract was up and he chose not to renew. Michael is the most important legacy character on the show (Q, Spencer & Corinthos). The show had to recast.
Storms is still under contract (although it’s obvious her episode guarantee has gone down). She’s taken breaks before, and always comes back with front burner storylines. This time should be nothing different.
Maxie was around before Michael! (Just sayin!) I’ve been watching since 1978.
Not sure what you’re implying. BTW, My 9-year old self began watching (with my mom) in 1977.
That overly emotive Kristin Storms fan was wrong when she whined that it was only a few weeks after Frank promised Chad he’d keep his job waiting before the Michael recast. It was more like 4 months, at least.
She’s acting as if she’s the Meryl Streep of daytime. She barely has a story, so why not let her take time off? It’ll be 3 months before anybody notices that she’s gone.
I notice, and No she doesn’t! Please be kind!
You really are a hag.
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.
Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”
Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.
Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.
Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.
However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.
Courtesy/ABC
BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON
Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.
He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.
Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”
General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”
So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali Song ‘Pray’ Now Available on Major Streaming Platforms with Music Video Forthcoming
‘General Hospital’ Icon Genie Francis to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
Vivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
‘Beyond the Gates’ vs. ‘The Young and the Restless’ in a Soap Opera Showdown on ‘Flip Side’ Season 3 Premiere
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