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
Chris McKenna Reportedly Out as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jack Brennan

As ABC’s General Hospital continues to make casting additions in front of the camera; a new report indicates that Chris McKenna is the next contract player to be written out of the show as his storyline as Port Charles WSB bureau chief, Jack Brennan, is coming to end this fall.
According to sources close to the situation, who informed Soap Opera Network, McKenna will exit the long-running soap opera when Jack is killed-off the canvas. The outlet shares, Brennan’s death will come about as the soap, “leans heavily into storylines surrounding the World Security Bureau (WSB).”
McKenna, who previously appeared on the soaps when he was 12 as a young Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live from 1990-1993, then as an adult as Mark Harding on The Young and the Restless from 2014-2015, and next on The Bold and the Beautiful in the short term role of Dr. Hayden, began his run as GH’s Brennan back in February of 2025, replacing Charles Mesure in the role.

Photo: ABC
JACK’S ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE
In fact, McKenna won the part over Daniel Goddard and Daniel Cosgrove, who eventually were cast in other roles on General Hospital, that of Henry Dalton and Ezra Boyle, respectively. Chris informed his fans via X, back in August of 2025, that he was put on contract at the daytime drama and thanked them for helping make it happen.
Chris told Michael Fairman TV how it was to step into the role previously played by Charles Mesure, “I knew the challenge it was going to be and I had a like 0nly five days to get my head around it, so I was ready for it. Sure, it was challenging, but I was up for it. I was a recast before on The Young and the Restless.”
On-screen, Jack became romantically involved with Carly Spencer (Laura Wright), but that went bust when Carly learned Jack was not up front with her and had secretly enlisted her daughter, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) to join the WSB. Over months, Carly plotted to get revenge on Jack, and suddenly, Valentin Casssadine (James Patrick Stuart), Jack’s mortal enemy, came into the picture and he had fallen for Carly and she for him.
Now, Jack has started up a relationship with Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) and has found himself in situations stooping to lows to help Nina and her criminal daughter, Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) out of jams, especially where Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) is concerned.

Photo: ABC
REUNITING WITH ERIKA SLEZAK
Last fall, Chris got a thrill of a lifetime when his OG on-screen mother from One Life to Live, the iconic Erika Slezak (ex-Viki) took on a guest role on General Hospital as Ronnie Bard, the secret sister of Monica Quartermaine (the late Leslie Charleson). While the two did not have a storyline together, Chris did share some tender moments reconnecting with Erika on the set,
McKenna has a laundry list of primetime credits including: State of Affairs, Good Trouble, Lucifer and Castle, where in an ironic twist he appeared alongside another Joey Buchanan none other than Nathan Fillion.
So, how do you feel if the report holds true and GH is killing off Brennan and Chris McKenna would exit the show? How do you think Brennan will die on GH? Will he be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and someone will take him out? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
General Hospital
Ryan Paevey Open to Return to ‘General Hospital’ to ‘Stir the Pot if Cassius Could be a Good Agent of Chaos’

On General Hospital, Ryan Paevey wrapped his comeback to General Hospital on the July 6 episode, when it was revealed that Cassius Faison was not dead, but being held by the WSB thanks to Z (John Oliver).
It was Z who gave Cassius an ultimatum: a one-way ticket to prison or a death sentence, or to become an agent himself! We never got the answer on-screen, but suffice to say, Cassius is still out there somewhere, but we can assume he is working for the WSB.
GH fans were thrilled to see Paevey back on the ABC daytime drama series where he initially played the very popular Detective Nathan West from 2013-2018. It had been over 7 years until Ryan made a return to his former soap stomping grounds when on-screen in September of 2025, he arrived in Port Charles as a very much alive Nathan, who was actually Cassius impersonating his late twin brother.

Photo: ABC
Over this past weekend, Paevey appeared at the annual GH Fan Club Weekend in Burbank, California, where according to a report from Soap Central who was on the scene; when a fan asked Ryan if he would make another visit to the soap opera in the future, he explained, “That’s a ‘Frank Chat,’ referencing a discussion would need to be had with Frank Valentini, GH’s executive producer.
A CASSIUS FAISON SIGHTING ANYTIME SOON?
Ryan also added, “I’m a bit of a drifter. So, I’m not sure that I want to go back and sign forever. Doing so took a lot of things out of my life, stuff that is valuable to me.” Paevey also explained while he was away from GH he was caretaker to his parents and working on his Fortunate Wanderer jewelry business and more.
However, Paevey concluded his thoughts on the matter with, “But, yeah, I would come back and stir the pot if Cassius could be a good agent of chaos… a conversation might be had with Frank about exactly what ‘not dead’ means.”
All this to say, would you like to see Ryan make another comeback to General Hospital? This time as WSB agent Cassius Faison? Do you think he would help out his sister, Britt and his mutter, and even Josslyn, if they got into serious future trouble? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Christian Howard Makes One Final Return as Ethan Lovett, as Hudson Learns Damning Intel

The Tuesday, August 4 episode of General Hospital brought with it another appearance by Christian Howard in the role of Ethan Lovett. As previously reported, Howard was brought into wrap up Ethan’s storyline as Nathan Dean’s four-month run with the show came to its conclusion.
Now, it has been 100% officially confirmed that today was the last episode of Howard as the recast Ethan. In story, Ethan was now seen in Oslo, Norway after hightailing it out of Port Charles after Hudson (Troy Lennon Appel) had showed up looking for him at the Metro Court pool in Port Charles.
On the July 31st episode, Ethan made a beeline to Lulu’s (Alexa Havins) grabbed his bags and headed out of the country without saying goodbye to Ava (Maura West), who he just had spent the night with.

Courtesy/ABC
However, on Tuesday’s GH, it was also the day where Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) finalized baby Phoebe’s adoption for Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard). This was juxtaposed with the action in Oslo where Hudson showed up at Ethan’s hotel room door. He demanded immediate answers about Delilah and the baby. Ethan told him that both Delilah and the baby she carried died.
ETHAN’S LIES CATCH UP TO HIM
Hudson is livid. The two get into multiple altercations with Hudson getting the upper hand claiming that Ethan is a thief, who had “stolen from the wrong man.” At that point, Hudson delivered a beatdown on Ethan. Next, he threatened Ethan that he will go after his entire family if he finds out he was lying to him.
Back in Port Charles at the Metro Court pool, Ava is lamenting about Ethan’s sudden disappearance to Trina (Tabyana Ali). Later alone, she gets a call from Ethan telling her to never reveal that he’s not Phoebe’s biological father. Cut to: Hudson out in the hotel hallway listening in on the call through a bug he planted in Ethan’s hotel room. Hudson then takes off. The final moment of Ethan’s is him sprawled out bloody on top of the hotel bed.
A GH rep told Soap Opera Digest that “the door is open for Ethan to return to Port Charles” in the future. And as previously reported by TV Insider, when Nathan Dean signed on for his four month return, it was due in part to that he and his wife announced back in March they were expecting a baby.
So, now that Christian Howard has officially exited the series marking the end of the story for now of Ethan Lovett, what are your thoughts? Obviously, we will look for Hudson to return to Port Charles and infiltrate the Quartermaines lives especially Brook Lynn and Chase to get close to Phoebe, and then there is Ava, who may be in terrible danger, or is she? Share your thoughts and theories.
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