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‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud Speaks Out On Being Blindsided by Steve Burton’s Exit, ‘I Feel Let Down’

By Michael Fairman

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Photos: ABC

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.

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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!

He was not “fired.” He chose to leave rather than take the vaccine, with the understanding he would be welcomed back when the mandate was lifted. He always expressed his desire to return, left on good terms, and was welcomed back.

Uhm, that’s not how it went down. Don’t spread misinformation like this, especially six months after the comment you’re responding to was made.

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’ Alum Eva LaRue Talks Guest Performer Daytime Emmy Nod With Maurice Benard: ‘I Only Have a Nomination Because of You’

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It was back in episodes of June of 2025 that saw the undoing and ultimate death of Natalia Rogers-Ramirez after complex and poignant scenes delivered by soap opera vet, Eva LaRue on General Hospital. Prior to her demise, Sonny (Maurice Benard) had Natalia believing they were going to head out of the country and set up their lives together, only for Sonny to pull out at the last moment after learning of all of Natalia’s deception.

Throughout her run on GH, LaRue’s Natalia became one of the most hated characters of the year, especially because of the character’s bigotry against her own gay children, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) and Blaze (Jacqueline Grace Lopez), and that she was revealed to be the ex-wife of Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota). But even with all that, Eva triumphed and secured a Daytime Emmy nomination going into the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards on October 30 in the Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series.

LaRue faces tough competition from the other nominees that include: Christopher Sean (Paul, Days of our Lives), Jasmine Burke (June Hughes, Beyond the Gates), Jeff Kober (ex-Cyrus Renault, General Hospital), and Ray Wise (ex-Ian Ward, The Young and the Restless).

Outstanding Guest Performer Nominees

Photo: NATAS

EVA LARUE SCORED HER FOURTH EMMY NOMINATION

Now, on a new Sunday, October 11 edition of Maurice Benard’s mental health series, State of Mind, the two former co-stars talked about LaRue’s fourth Daytime Emmy nomination. She previously won an Emmy for her work as as Celeste Rosales on The Young and the Restless in this same category in 2020, and was nominated three other times including this year.

The others were for co-writing the song, “Dance with You Again” for All My Children in 2004 and in 1997 in the Supporting Actress category her role as Mario Santos on the beloved ABC soap opera.

Speaking on her nomination, LaRue says it’s Maurice who was truly helped her deliver her performances. “I only have a nomination because of you,” she said to the three-time Daytime Emmy winning Lead Actor. “You said to me that you were going to get nominated.” Eva added, “God bless the writers because they wrote some fantastic stuff for me to go out on.”

Maurice responded, “You had levels in your work that day that we did those scenes. But you were on fire!”

Sonny and Natalia, GH

Photo: ABC

MAURICE BENARD’S BOLD EMMY PREDICTION

Explaining the category she is nominated for to Benard, LaRue said, “I’m nominated for Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series. So (the category) was those of us who were like not on contract, but we were there for a while. I mean now, I feel like that guest thing is so much more competitive than it ever was, because so many of the soap operas are taking people off contract, which then throws them into the Guest category.”

Benard, who shares he has great Emmy karma predicting the acting awards on daytime’s biggest night, made his bold 2026 prediction sharing his pick. “I would say you’re gonna win (to LaRue). And I would say if not, it’s between you and somebody else. There’s no reason why you wouldn’t win for the ‘Guest’ category.”

You can watch part 1 of the conversation between Eva LaRue and Maurice Benard on State of Mind below. With part 2 being released next Sunday on October 18.

Now, let us know, do you think Eva has a chance at grabbing the gold for her work as Natalia-Rogers Ramirez on General Hospital? Would you like to see her win? It’s been a very heavy time for Eva after just recently losing her brother. Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Who Winds Up Hitting the Sheets First? Jordan and Michael or Curtis and Monet?

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Curtis, Monet, Michael and Jordan

After today’s Friday, October 9 episode of General Hospital, Monet Mitchell (Blythe Howard) informs Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner), that not only is she Jordan’s (Tanisha Harper) half-sister, but the best damn lawyer there is to get him out of spending the rest of his prison sentence in Pentonville. Does he believe her?

If Monet can come through, would Curtis look at her in a whole new light, especially since his girlfriend, Jordan has headed to Europe with Michael (Rory Gibson) to visit the burn clinic to restore her face and remove the scars that have plagued her since the car accident with him?

It appears GH is ready to shake-up the couples and the romance on the long-running ABC soap opera. We already know Tanisha Harper previewed that the series is trying out the chemistry between Harper and her GH co-star Rory Gibson, and that Michael and Jordan might explore their burgeoning feelings for one another since both currently work together at Aurora Media, and understand what the other went through following horrific sets of circumstances that left them scarred.

Photo: ABC

As for Monet, she would like nothing more than to stick to her sister as their is still a deep troubled history between the two yet to be fully revealed. It would seem Monet would love to flaunt a relationship with Curtis. And knowing Curtis, he will be so eternally grateful to Monet for helping him gain his freedom that this might be a possible scenario. But the question becomes, who cheats on who first?

Do you think Jordan and Michael hook-up while away from Port Charles? Does Monet take advantage of Curtis, if and when, he becomes a free man? Does Curtis already sense Jordan pulling away from him but is keeping that inside, or will this all come as shocker if he were to learn Michael and Jordan have become closer?

Tanisha and Rory

Photo: ABC

While much of this is speculation, it does seem like the trajectory of the storyline; given that Michael’s recent love interest Jacinda (Paige Herschell) was written-out of the story, and it appears that Serena Baldwin (Kelly Kruger) is now being put in the romantic path of Jason Morgan (Steve Burton).

GH spoilers for the week of October 12-16 indicate that on Wednesday, October 14, Michael reflects on his past, while on Thursday, October 16 Monet advises Curtis.

So, do you think that Jordan hits the sheets with Michael, and Monet and Curtis will hook up? Or, do you think it will all be a giant tease? If it becomes true, who would you be rooting for to end up together? Any of them? Let us know in the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Chase Turns a Blind Eye to the Scathing Headline About His Ex-Wife and Runs to Her Defense

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Chase

By the end of the Thursday, October 8 episode of General Hospital, we were left scratching our heads at how utterly indefensible Chase’s (Josh Swickard) complete and utter blind eye to his ex-wife, Willow’s (Katelyn MacMullen) actions and his knight in shining armor antics are so misguided.

Let’s break this down! After Lulu’s (Alexa Havins) piece in The Invader has the whole town of Port Charles talking, Carly (Laura Wright) laughs in Drew’s (Cameron Mathison) face about how he was trapped in a wheelchair with a paralytic drug for months, while Tracy (Jane Elliot) filled Michael (Rory Gibson) and Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) in on the article, which to this point they have not seen.

Said article, comes on the heels of Lulu’s little chat with Sidwell (Carlo Rota) in his hospital room. The headline reads: “Motion Denied: Congresswoman Gives Husband Paralytic Drug For Months!”

Michael and Brook Lynn worried that Willow will lash out do something vengeful and blame the Quartermaines for this. They hope that Chase will finally see the light to who Willow truly is.

Willow

Courtesy/ABC

WILLOW CAN DO NO WRONG?

Meanwhile, Chase is meeting with his lawyer Monet Mitchell (Blythe Howard) to discuss his separation from Brook Lynn, when he suddenly gets a text from Tracy. He opens it up and tells Monet he has to bolt. Something has come up. So, Chase being Chase, shows up in the Quartermaine kitchen and blames Brook Lynn, Michael and Tracy for a hit piece on his ex-wife.

The three deny involvement. But Chase being Chase, doesn’t believe a word they are saying. He then makes a VOW to stop them from trying to destroy Willow’s reputation any further! After he storms out, Brook Lynn is angered and devastated that no matter what, Chase is standing by his ex, and not trying to save his marriage to her.

FRIENDLY SUPPORT INTERUPPTED

Meanwhile at the gatehouse, Willow is opening up to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), who came by to see her to offer her support. Willow admitted the story is true and that Sidwell gave her the paralytic drugs to use on Drew, in return for having her implanted in congress to do his bidding and to take Drew’s seat. Willow’s concerned that the mere existence of this article will cause massive problems with her political career and the custody arrangement over her children she has with Michael.

As Britt tries to help Willow figure a way to save herself, Chase arrives fuming mad. He tells Willow he is absolutely sure that Brook Lynn, Michael and Tracy were behind the article and he knows exactly how they could fight back.

So, does it seem to you that even if Willow admits to Chase to what she did to Drew is true, that Chase will just feel bad for her and not see anything but desire for her? Is Chase going to continue to be the dumbest male character in daytime? Weigh-in via the comment section, but first, check out the scenes between Britt and Willow below from today’s GH.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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