General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud Speaks Out On Being Blindsided by Steve Burton’s Exit, ‘I Feel Let Down’
When Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud returned to General Hospital to reprise her role of Dr. Britt Westbourne, it was with the understanding that she would have the opportunity to work with Steve Burton (Jason Morgan), and continue what started as the beginning of a love story between Britt and Jason, before he left the show in 2021 due to the Disney/ABC Covid-19 vaccine mandate, and she exited the series in early 2023, after wanting to pursue other projects.
When they were finally both back at GH at the same time in 2025, the story of Britt’s back-from-the-dead story began to reveal itself and more recently, Britt finally let Jason get closer to her, and thus the romance was on track, although it has to be kept secret to protect both their lives.
Recently, Steve Burton announced his desire to take a break from GH. He wrapped his final scenes before his hiatus on February 6. As it stands now and as previously reported, Steve is planning on returning to the ABC soap opera at some point over the summer.

Photo: ABC
For the first time since Burton dropped the bombshell, Kelly Thiebaud is speaking out about it, on the latest episode of Maurice Benard’s State of Mind You Tube series which drops in full on Sunday, February 22. In a preview clip released on Friday, Thiebaud shares her disappointment on Burton’s hiatus.
Kelly shared, “I was shocked when I found out. I was very shocked.” She went so far as to say that she “confronted’ her co-star about it, but he explained to her the reasons which included time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom who he married less than a year ago in May of 2025.
Understanding time away is important, especially since she made the decision to initially leave GH, due to the grind of soap, Kelly told Benard, “I know what that feels.” However, she added, “But the other side is I feel let down. I thought we had time together. It’s just been really hard.”
But in the end, she added she wants the utmost best for Steve: “He’s gotta go live his life, and I wish him nothing but the best. love Steve and I will miss him terribly, and I am sad. But, again, I understand that you’ve got to go when you feel the need to go.”
Watch Kelly and Maurice talk about Steve Burton’s current exit from General Hospital below.
Then, let us know, where do you think Britt’s story can go from here? Do you think when Steve returns, Jason and Britt will be back together? Share your thoughts on Kelly’s disappointment via the comment section below.
I hope so I am huge Jason and britt pairing
They are the worst
Well, understand how Steve felt when she left the show….
I could be wrong, but he got fired before she left
“Shocked”? “Blindsided”? I realize she’s a soap actress but isn’t that being a tad overly dramatic? I understand she negotiated her return based on a romantic pairing with Jason but she ought to demonstrate a little more resilience and flexibility. Burton will be back and she’s in a front burner storyline. Kelly conveys a sense of entitlement which is a bit unbecoming.
I agree with you @harry. She needs to be more flexible and she is definitely sounding entitled. I was not excited to see her back on screen this time around when she was brought back from the dead. And really if she can’t give her co-star the space and time he clearly desires then what kind of person is she?
it is a bit confusing since he’s leaving temporarily and will be back, GH takes forever to unfold storylines anyways, look how long she’s been back and its taken for her storyline to play out, we’ve had to wait for months to see Maxie and Nathan “reunite ” and Where’s Finola Hughes? is she gone? her name is no longer in the Fridays closing credits, what’s going on there? GH is messy with continuity, its frustrating but it is what it is.
There’s been no official announcement (surprised at the soap press) but Finola was removed from the credits the Friday before – the same day Kirstin returned to the credits.
She’s let her contract expire before (around 2018) and came back a few months later.
It will be SO nice to have a break from the character of Jason. He can take ALL the time off he needs!
He was FIRED! He should be grateful they rehired him! Suck it up for a while! You’re affecting many people, nit just yourself. Entitled actor!
Yeah… we can always go back to “The Church of Parasite Nina” 5 days a week, every week until he comes back. You know, like they did from November 2021 – March 2024.
Because that was such “compelling television”, right?
Actually it worked out great for us down here in Hell. It was ready made material to torment the damned!
They have t.v. n hell?
Oh, cry me a river! Not everything is about her.
Well, as Olivia Soprano used to tell Tony, “ POOR YOU!”
I know I’m in the minority on this issue. How many times has Burton left GH? And, how many times has Jason been written out as dead or missing and presumed dead? Burton is getting almost as bad as Jackson. Either Burton wants this job or he doesn’t. I realize he has a family. So does everyone else and they somehow manage to have a family life, that’s what vacation is for, and fulfill their employment obligations. I feel that Jason is an important character. If Burton is tired of the grind of playing the character, he should resign and TPTB should recast. I certainly understand feeling like you’ve given everything you have to give to a particular job. Recasting is not the end of the world. Amanda Sutton is an excellent example. She has made Brook Lynn her own.
Burton’s probably going to be offscreen 4 months. That’s no big deal. Geary used to take 4 months off every year. It allowed the show to focus on other characters.
They tried the recast route with Miller and that didn’t turn out too well. Burton came back when his sweetheart deal with Y&R ended. No big name actor would sign on to play Jason knowing Burton could return.
Setton is great, but Brook Lynn was never a leading character and she didn’t replace someone who was on the show going back to the early 90s.
Yeah I immediately thought of Tony Geary also. He’s the one who invented long furloughs in exchange for his private life away from LA. I don’t feel bothered by Steve’s vacation nor by Kelly’s feelings. Both are understandable. I hope Kelly sticks around. She’s a wonderful talent.
It’s not about actors taking long breaks or furloughs that folks are objecting to, it’s Kelly’s whining that is so irritating. Saying you felt “ blindsided” or “let down” by a co worker’s personal decision is just plain silly and kind of makes her look self absorbed.
How many times has Kelly left the show? She has always come and gone. The last time she left she asked the writers to kill her off because she never wanted to return to GH. Maybe she should have stayed away. Kelly should be grateful to Steve for getting her her job back. Kelly said she tried to come back to GH when Steve first returned in 2024, but she claimed the show didn’t want back. Then last year Steve decided to bring Britt back as a love interest for Jason and asked Frank to bring Kelly back and he did. That’s the only reason she is on the show.
There are a lot of rumors floating around. Some fans thought she was mad and leaving GH again. One rumor is the show is not happy with the Jason and Britt reunion so they may pair him with someone else. Another is that Steve is taking a break to renegotiate his contract, which ends this year. Regardless, Kelly Thiebaud should be grateful to Steve Burton that she even has this job. This is why the actors should never pick their love interest or write their own stories.
Totally agree with you she has left like three times right? Shes not the star the show.
Many soap actors take extended breaks on an annual basis. Burton is hardly the first, and is far from the only GHer that does it. Jane Elliott, Finola Hughes, Genie Francis to name just a few. That doesn’t mean that they don’t want the job. It means that a soap actor’s work life is grueling, and an annual extended vacation is the way that they choose to deal with it. It’s inherent on the soap to decide if that performer is worth the inconvenience, and clearly GH believes that it is.
Recasts can work but not with him I don’t know why but it wouldn’t be the same. But he’s been on a long time let him take a break. I’m sure there is more to the story but she is sounding so whiny.
I don’t really care for her with Jason but gee he has the right to take some time off.
Oh brother! The self-pity is obnoxious
I could see if he was pronounced dead again but he is coming back over the summer. That’s just 5-6 months, not 5-6 years. I am sure everything will be fine till then. Soaps can be a lot and everyone needs some time off at some point.
I’m really confused about her speaking out on this issue. I didn’t need to know about them. He has his right just like she did and he said he’d be back in the summer. I like Jason and Britt together. Things will happen. Just chill.
Right. Can you imagine veteran GH actress Rebecca Herbst whining in public about how her character has been given very little airtime while giving Kelly Thieband front burner stories and a romantic pairing with the hot lead actor of her choice? But you never hear a complaint coming from her because she’s a grown up and a professional.
I think Britt & Jason are great together the push & pull chemistry I hope they have a love story when Steve returns -_-all the best & brightest & blessed life to Steve & his new wife
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Cullum Kidnaps Obrecht as Britt’s Replacement to Finish Faison’s Final Project
WSB director Ross Cullum is truly as despicable villain as they come, and played with steely intensity by Andrew Hawkes. For the double agents latest crime, you need to look no further than the Friday, June 5 cliffhanger of General Hospital, where in the episode’s final moments he sneaks up on an unassuming Dr. Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati) after hiding in the back seat of her car.
Next, he chloroforms her with his intent clear. He plans on forcing her to finish the last leg of Faison’s final project at Wyndemere, since her daughter Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) left town with Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) in tow to get away from Cullum!
In what led to the kidnapping, Cullum had a terse conversation with his business associate and co-conspirator on the project, Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota). It is Sidwell who is preoccupied with wanting to bring Marco’s killer to justice (not knowing it’s the man right in front of him!). Sidwell told Cullum if bringing Marco’s killer to justice wasn’t a priority for the WSB director, then why should protecting Cullum be a priority for him?
SIDWELL VS. CULLUM
The two finally put aside their differences as they have to complete Faison’s final project for it will be highly lucrative for them, useful for their mutual gains, and groundbreaking. In order to do that they need a great mind with a scientific background to finish it up and get them to the finish line since Britt as disappeared.
Later, outside of “General Hospital,” Obrecht is headed back to her car after searching Britt’s office for any clues as to the whereabouts of her daughter. But when she got in the car to drive away, that’s when the aforementioned Cullum strikes!

Courtesy/ABC
BROOK LYNN GETS ADVICE FROM A FORMER ADULTERESS
In other key developments, after Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) keeps inserting herself into Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) life, all with the seeming pretense to pay back Chase for helping her clear her name at the trial, and standing by her, she brings good news in person about baby Phoebe’s adoption to Alexis’ (Nancy Lee Grahn) law office to Chase. Once Brook Lynn heard Chase was on her away over with paperwork, she decided to hightail it out of there for an “emergency” appointment for Deception.
As we come to find out, Brook Lynn meets up with Lucy (Lynn Herring) at the Metro Court pool, She then proceeds to inform Lucy about Willow sniffing around he husband. Lucy says she knows a thing or two about being an adulteress. Brook Lynn wants Lucy to help her send a clear message to Willow to stay away from her husband, or else!
Now below, check out the scenes before Obrecht was kidnapped where she visited Willow, Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) and suspects Willow is up to no good.
Then let us know, with Lucy taking Brook Lynn under her wing, what plot do you think the two will come up with against Willow? What do you think will happen to Obrecht? With Lucas also at Wyndemere trying to bait Sidwell into an attempted murder charge, will he winds up thrown in the secret room with Josslyn? Share your thoughts and theories on the latest GH via the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
2026 SDSA TV Award Nominations: All Five Daytime Dramas Score in Best Achievement in Set Decoration
The Set Decorators Society of America has revealed its nominations for 2025-26 SDSA Awards for Television, which recognizes the work of the set decoration and production designers in primetime, streaming and daytime series.
This year, all five soap operas: Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital and The Young and the Restless all received nominations in the Best Achievement in Decor/Design of a Daytime Series category.
In its official SDSA rule book, to qualify for the category of a Daytime Series, which includes daytime dramas, daytime talk shows, daytime game shows, and daytime children’s programming, all episodes must air before 6:00pm and must have a credited Set Decorator. For daytime dramas, the content must contain multiple plotlines that are carried over from episode to episode.

Photo: JPI
WHICH EPISODES CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPETITION?
The eligibility year for episodes runs June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026. Founded in 1993, the SDSA is an international nonprofit professional association dedicated to promoting excellence and preserving the legacy of the art of set decoration in motion pictures and television.
Several popular primetime and streaming titles that have wrapped their final seasons also received nods including Euphoria, Stranger Things, Hacks, Outlander, and The Boys. Popular titles such as Bridgerton.
Take a look below at the nominated scenic design teams from your favorite soaps:
Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Daytime Series
Beyond The Gates: Set Decoration by Cynthia Slagter with Production Design by Bruton Jones
The Bold and the Beautiful: Set Decoration by Prim Rosales, Beth Wooke, Prerna Chawla, Charlotte Garnell, Chelsea Mondelli, Michelle Hall, & Linda Louise Sheets with Production Design by Lou A. Trabbie III
Days of Our Lives: Set Decoration by Adele Caine & Sarah Holmes with Production Design by Tom Early & Dan Olexiewicz
General Hospital: Set Decoration by Jennifer Elliot with Production Design by Andrew Evashchen
The Young and the Restless: Set Decoration by Jennifer Haybach, Justine Mercado, Maria Dirolf, & Monica Lowe with Production Design by David Hoffmann
So, which soap opera from the calendar year of basically June of 2025 to a week ago in 2026, do you think has had the best looking sets? Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, or The Young and the Restless? Make you pick and drop it in the comment section below.
General Hospital
Marc Forget Exits ‘General Hospital’
The Thursday June 4 episode of General Hospital paved way for the end of the line for Jenz Sidwell’s (Carlo Rota) butler/fixer, Pascal (Marc Forget).
In the pick of the June 3 cliffhanger, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) was the hero and stopped the evil-doer from fleeing Port Charles for his part in aiding and abetting his boss with the cover-up of the murder of Professor Henry Dalton (Daniel Goddard) among other crimes.
Today’s episode did indeed mark the final appearance of Marc Forget who joined the ABC soap opera when he debuted back in July of 2025. Viewers met met Pascal when Kelly Thiebaud returned to the soap opera as Britt Westbourne and she was being blackmailed to work on Faison’s final project while at the Five Poppies in Dalmatia.

Courtesy/ABC
A General Hospital rep confirmed to Soap Opera Digest, that the June 4 episode, “Will be the last viewers will see of Pascal for now, but notes that in the world of Port Charles, comebacks are always possible.” So, how did Pascal get written-off the canvas? Here’s what went down:
PASCAL GIVES LUCAS KEY INFORMATION BEFORE BEING DRAGGED AWAY
After Sonny intercepted Pascal on his desperate attempt to get out of town, Sonny informed him hat Sidwell would stop at nothing from trying to get retribution for whoever killed his son, Marco, and promptly turned around and said that he would help Pascal flee the country, only if he turned on Sidwell.
An absolutely terrified Pascal had evidence for Sonny that he could use against Sidwell. However, he feared he would get killed on sight if he tried to retrieve the incriminating photos of Sonny and Laura from the safe at Wyndemere. So instead, Pascal gave the combination to the safe to Lucas (Van Hansis), so he could get the blackmail photos himself. But, did Pascal just set up Lucas to be killed since he loathes him for being the man to win the heart of the late Marco?
In the end, Sonny had one of his henchmen drag Pascal away and whisked off to an airfield to fly away to parts unknown, and hopefully never to be heard from again. But what now? Is Lucas going to end up being pegged as Marco’s killer and taken down by Sidwell if he gets his hands on the incriminating photos for Sonny and Laura? Stay tuned.
So, what did you think of Marc Forget’s run as Pascal? Sad or happy to see the character go? Do you think he will be back down the line? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
-
General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’ Cast Maxwell Caulfield as Apollo, the Suspicious Gallery Owner in Guest Appearance
-
News1 week ago‘The Bold and the Unscripted’ New Reality Competition Series Gives Actors a Shot at Role on the CBS Soap
-
General Hospital5 days ago‘General Hospital’ Casts Dean Geyer in the Role of ‘Tristan Roberts’
-
General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’ Alum William Lipton Featured in ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4,’ the Next Installment from Video Game Franchise
-
General Hospital5 days agoSteve Burton and Finola Hughes Back Taping Episodes at ‘General Hospital’
-
General Hospital4 days ago‘General Hospital’ SORAS’s Scout Cain and Casts Kayden Brenna Tokarski in the Role of Drew and Sam’s Daughter
-
General Hospital2 days agoMarc Forget Exits ‘General Hospital’
-
General Hospital6 days agoGENERAL HOSPITAL Spoilers Promo: Chase and Willow Have a Close Encounter and Tracy Gets an Eyeful