General Hospital
Ingo Rademacher Addresses His Lawsuit & Being Fired From General Hospital on the Heels of Steve Burton’s Return
At the conclusion of Thursday’s primetime special, General Hospital 60 Years of Stars and Storytelling, Steve Burton made a surprise announcement that he was returning to his soap-famous role as Jason Morgan. Previously, Burton was let go from the ABC daytime drama series for not complying with the Covid-19 vaccine mandate that was in place at the time from Disney/ABC.
Ingo Rademacher was also fired from the show for not complying with the vaccine mandate, but then sued ABC back in December of 2021. He lost his court case in June of 2023, which he is now appealing the decision.
Taking to Instagram on Friday, Ingo says he wanted to “clarify” why he was fired from GH and his court case. Rademacher began his video claiming, “I was fired for not complying for the vaccine mandate but in the discovery process (which he explains what that means), we found out they were actually trying to fire me before the vaccine mandate because they didn’t like my political and social views.”
Photo: JPI
Accompanying his video post were these words,”I think it’s time to set the record straight on a few things about my lawsuit against against ABC Disney which is now in appeals. I recorded this on January 1 but hadn’t had time to post it. I say this because the news of Steve Burton coming back on the show was announced today and a big congratulations to him. Also a big thank you to General Hospital for proving me right. I know some of you are going to say well, ‘If you wouldn’t have sued them, maybe you could’ve come back too,’ but that’s not true because what we found out during discovery is that they were trying to figure out a way to fire me (without getting sued) because they didn’t like my political and social views.”
Photo: JPI
Later in his video, Ingo goes on to say that he hopes for certain cast and crew members that his case never sees trial because he will then have to air all the ‘dirty laundry” from how he claims he was treated.
The former soap star says he feels what happened to him was wrong, and that it hurt him and his family, and that is why he is fighting the courts decision with an appeal, and for anyone that got fired for the same reasons.
You can watch what Ingo said below.
So, do you think that Ingo could win his appeal? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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Just like his Lord & Savior Donald Trump, Ingo always blames his dragonshit on everybody but himself.
Can I get an amen, lol, Well said and so true!
Would the world be a better place if everyone could stay out of other people’s bedrooms?
He acts like nobody knows how soap contracts work. There are “option windows”’ where – for whatever reason – the producers can choose not to pick up the remainder of the contract. For newer performers it’s every 13 weeks. Some veterans have 26 week windows. Covid vaccine non-withstanding, all ABC had to do was wait until that window to not pick up his option.
It’s 2024 and I’m tired of this topic. Ingo is just trying to save face and stay relevant.
Sort of confused by this. Acting on soap operas is a contract gig, usually with the show having the power every 13 weeks to drop anyone they want. They didn’t need to find a “reason” to fire him if they wanted. How many times have we seen actors leave soaps for “storyline-dictated” reasons. Just write a story in which Jax leaves town or is killed, and bam the actor is gone. There wouldn’t have been any reason for a conspiracy against him if they wanted him gone. They had the power.
I support Ingo 100 percent. We need to stop censoring those with conservative views. I am a former journalist who supports free speech all the way, as long as you’re not calling for genocide of Jews or something hateful. Many court cases could explain further the limits on the First Amendment better than I can. The liberals are shredding our precious Constitution, one bit at a time. We need to end it before we end up living in a socialist nation.
The First Amendment deals exclusively with government suppression of speech. It would not apply here, as ABC is not a government entity, so nobody–liberals, conservatives, or any other particular political group–is doing any Constitution shredding, at least in this instance. (If this website wanted to report on IR’s lawsuit, and some government entity tried to interfere with that, then that would be a solid First Amendment issue. But IR’s lawsuit is between a citizen and a privately owned corporation–totally outside the scope of the First Amendment.)
Whether ABC (or any other employer) can fire somebody for not getting a Covid vaccine is beyond my knowledge of law, so it could indeed be a legal issue, but it’s not a Constitutional issue under the First Amendment. As I understand it, some have argued that, if someone asserts religious beliefs as a reason for not getting the vaccine, and then is fired for not getting it, their rights have been violated under the Fourteenth Amendment (not the First), but it’s not cut and dry–you can’t practice polygamy, for example, or human sacrifice, even if you assert your religion believes in it, supports it, or requires it, so the Fourteenth Amendment has limitations–and the courts are still working through the issue, though I gather they’ve largely been ruling in favor of the employers so far. But IR’s political views, and whether or not ABC liked them (or him), would be irrelevant to the argument.
Socialism is an economic system (not a political system, which is what the Constitution deals with) in which economic gains are distributed differently than under capitalism. (That’s a very simplistic definition, for sure, but will do for this discussion, and full disclosure: I’m not a fan.) Many socialist societies have constitutions (such as a number of the major western European economies), and it would certainly be possible to maintain the current US Constitution and have a socialist economic system. One thing has very little (if anything) to do with the other, and there’s actually little to nothing in the Constitution–that I’m aware of–that guarantees US citizens the right to live in a capitalist society. It’s also entirely possible, as I mentioned, to have a socialist economic system and a political system that’s a democracy; see Sweden, for example, and other western European democracies.
We already are
As a former journalist you should have a better grasp of free speech and the First Amendment. The government did not stifle Ingo’s speech or ability to express himself. A private employer (Disney/ABC) set a workplace condition that Ingo chose not to meet, as was his right. Therefore, the employer terminated his contract, which was their right. This is a labor issue, not a free speech issue at all.
Ingo was not a team player . He throws his cast mates under the bus when ever it suited him . Ingo is racist, transphobic, doesn’t care about his fans , he turned on the network . You can’t sue your boss and expect to keep your job .
what?? they have contracts some can be let go after any 13 week period fr others it is 26 weeks ,,,, all they had to do was wait for that window or write a story where jax leaves so why would they need an excuse to fire him??? makes no sense at all
Ingo was bullying his coworkers so he better hope things don’t come out. We literally saw him saying things about Nancy Lee Grahn to Maurice Benard. He’s an idiot.
Exactly
As others have pointed out, he’s either seriously deluded (if he believes what he’s saying) or lying to his fans because he wants to save face (if he knows better–and I find it hard to believe that he’s been around soaps as long as he has and doesn’t understand how his contract works).
Soaps can get rid of just about anybody they want to, four times a year; they don’t have to try “to figure out a way to fire me (without getting sued) because they didn’t like my political and social views.” All they have to do is wait for the end of a 13-week period and write someone’s character out of the story; that’s the way soap contracts work. They don’t even have to have a reason, really, because nothing is implied about job performance, etc.: “we’re just choosing not to have this character on screen anymore.”
Largely because of this, soap actors who have tried this kind of argument in court before have not been successful. He may break that mold, I guess, but it’s hard to argue there’s some kind of discrimination at work when not just your contract, but EVERYONE’s contract, has these same kinds of out-clauses. And it’s been that way the entire time I’ve been watching soaps (going on 50 years now).
I guess he’s counting on his fans not understanding this basic fact about the way soap actors’ contracts work; if they do (understand soap contracts), his post makes no sense at all, and they’d be left scratching their heads.
I wonder if he’s hoping that he can use ugly publicity to try to pressure ABC into settling out of court, but I suspect they’re on such solid ground legally that they’re laughing at him.
I don’t care about anyone’s religious or political views this is supposed to be a free country but Isn’t Steve Burton fairly conservative? And the networks can get out of a contract with a snap of a finger and for most soap actors it’s every 13 weeks.
I have heard “rumors” about Steve’s politics, but I have never heard him say anything overtly political at all. Cameron Mathison recently signed a contract with an ultra conservative media company, but he still works for GH. Jen Lilley works for that same company, but she came back to Days of Our Lives for a while. I doubt that being a self described “conservative” has caused anybody to lose their job.
Now being a racist, transphobic bigot who cheers on open treason against the US, like Ingo did, well that’s a different story. And it should be.
Love your post. The Satan we all know and love is back in full force!
Im curious I was Roger let go because Steve is coming back?? Hmmmm
Probably. They have to maintain a casting budget. So trade one top-tier paid actor for another…
It will be interesting to see if Steve has the same episode guarantee as in the past. Kelly M has noticeably been reduced (and rejuvenated as a character). Roger’s guarantee must have been low since we’d sometimes go weeks without seeing Austin (and barely noticed).
There’s no evidence to support that. But if it was a question of a GH legacy character who has been around since 1982 (and an actor who started in 1991) vs an OLTL transplant on his third failed character, then yes, that’s an easy choice to make.
Or.. ABC could do OLTL version 3, and give Roger his massively great role of “Todd Manning” again.
I would say the odds of that happening are slightly less than me shoveling 666 feet of snow off my sidewalk tomorrow morning.
While ABC seems to be slightly supporting GH these days, there’s no indication they’re going to invest in any other daytime programming other than so-called “news” shows.
Could I get you on my side if they were to go back to original name ” Between Heaven and Hell” ?
Ingo is conflating his right to free speech with experiencing consequences for his actions.
Sorry. Nothing against him personally, but I don’t miss him or Jax on GH. End of story for me. I don’t think he’s necessary to the story.
Sounds like he’s threatening to spill the Beans or rather spill the text of some of his coworkers. Just not cool.
He seems unhinged
I don’t understand his point of view at all. According to him, ABC was looking for reasons to get rid of him because of his political views.But as many here have pointed out, they don’t ‘need reasons’ because their out for whatever reason comes around every 13wks. And more importantly, that IS. NOT. WHAT. HAPPENED. IN. REALITY. Let’s just go with his argument – they were trying to find a reason. But then circumstances completely changed in the world and COVID came along and they instituted a policy to protect their employees that everyone working on GH needed a COVID shot. He chose not to get that shot. And had to be released. Same thing that happened to one of GH’s personal jewels with Steve Burton (whether you agree with that jewel assessment or not), as well as perhaps, a couple of other actors. So in the end – no matter what he said was thought about or discussed or wanted by ABC – he was NOT released for his political beliefs. He was released because of the COVID shot mandate.
And then all of sudden, he was being treated unfairly. And he had a religion he had never discussed or revealed before (which is odd right, since he seems to be rather proud of espousing political views but not his religious views). Of course, I wouldn’t put it past him at this point to believe they came up with the shot mandate just to get rid of him, and were willing to sacrifice Burton to get to Rademacher – which is ludicrous.
And it’s been my experience that people who try and turn themselves in martyrs for the ’cause’ of punishment for political views tend to have a much different view of their vocal expressions than do the people who have to listen to and experience them. In other words, I have a feeling, think, perhaps, maybe he was more obnoxious about the whole thing than he likes to admit – and people were probably sick of him. Because GH has brought Ingo back several times over the years, so his personal political views couldn’t have been a secret to them, so something had to be different this time around that made the circumstances different. And since by his own admission, there are people there that share his views, it’s not just about his views (hey, they brought Burton back). So what exactly was different this time specifically relating to Ingo? Probably not the innocent persecuted lamb he likes to portray.
And again – what he says happened that was so wrong, actually did not happen when it came right down to it.
Ok let’s release the texts/emails and see what’s he’s got and GH release your text/emails and let’s see what you’ve got–let it all come out. Would not surprise me if Roger was let go d/t Steve coming back either. Glad for Steve he’s coming back. Does anyone rememer if Victoria Rowell situation with Y&R turned out well? Is she back? How many years has it been? Just sayin. What it basically boils down to is if your work/employer requires something to be employeed and you don’t comply you can be fired.
If they cared aboutvratings or fans they’d bring him back
Hell no! It’s Disney you’re going up against. I wish you luck but not in this lifetime will you come out victorious in this fight . You will never see the win. I however always remember you never walked away from a challenge on G.H .I hope you are somewhat like your character on the show .I for one miss you sweeping in to save the day. I wondered why you didn’t show up for Carley when Nina blew up her life as she knew it.
If Anna Devane’s (Finola Hughes) new therapist on General Hospital looks familiar to you, it’s because actress Kearran Giovanni, who plays Dr. Nichols, previously played a doctor on One Life to Live!.
Viewers tuning-in to the Thursday, September 10 episode of GH got their first look at Dr. Nichols who has been brought in to help Anna recover from her PTSD and trauma following the reveal that she has been suffering from a break in reality since before being put in mental health facility in France, after being gaslighted by Cullum and company earlier in the year.
One Life to Live fans will recall that Kearran Giovanni played Dr. Vivian Wright in 2009, and it was then she first worked with current General Hospital EP, Frank Valentini, who at the time was at the helm in Llanview.
Photo: JPI
WHERE ELSE HAVE YOU SEEN KEARRAN GIOVANNI?
Giovanni appeared on OLTL in the recurring role through 2012 and in the final ABC episode of the beloved series was the the ob/gyn who delivered Destiny Evans (Shenell Edmonds) and Matthew Buchanan’s (Eddie Alderson) baby into the world, whom they named Drew Buchanan II after Bo Buchanan’s (Robert S, Woods) late son. In addition, Vivian has been dating Shaun Evans (Sean Ringgold).
In addition to One Life to Love, Giovanni has very impressive credits having appeared in numerous TV series and motion pictures including starring in the TNT drama Major Crimes from 2012-18, ABC’s Designated Survivor 2017-19, the CW’s Black Lightning from 2019-20. Most recently, Giovanni appeared on the Fox series, The Resident and has a recurring role on the CW’s crime series, Walker from 202-2024.
HEALING ANNA
On today’s General Hospital, after Anna’s harrowing meltdown where she almost shot and killed Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) after seeing visions of “Peter August” (Wes Ramsey), Jason (Steve Burton) saved the day and talked Anna down from committing murder. Now, Dr. Nichols was introduced as a valuable staff member at the hospital. Although, this marked the first time in the history of the show we have heard of her character.
So, do you remember seeing Kearran Giovanni on One Life to Live? Happy to see that Anna may have a qualified therapist in charge of her healing, unless the doctor turns out to be not on the up and up? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Anna Breaks Down in Front of Jason and Britt After Shots Are Fired
The Wednesday, September 9 episode of General Hospital featured top-notch performances by Finola Hughes and Steve Burton, as Anna holds Jason and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) at gunpoint on Mount Emerson.
Anna is not in her right mind as hallucinations of Peter (Wes Ramsey) overtake her, egging her on to shoot and kill Britt. Jason begs Anna to put down the gun, but it’s clear Anna is speaking to someone who is not there, but in a direction that is just past Britt.
Suddenly, Anna screams at Britt, “You’re just like your father!” Anna also tells Britt that she knew Britt was aware that she was locked up on Spoon Island and did nothing to save her. Britt turns to Jason and tells him she had no idea Anna was on the Island, “until Cullum showed up in Port Charles.” That declaration gave Jason pause.
Courtesy/ABC
“PETER” TAKES A BULLET
Next, Anna is overcome with angst, filled with tears and screams out, “I won’t let you beat me!” She fires the gun where the imaginary Peter was standing, as Britt screams and Jason dove to cover her. Now completely shaken, Jason took the weapon from Anna and ordered Britt to leave the scene as Anna collapsed in Jason’s arms.
Jason was so concerned for Anna. She reveals she’s been seeing visions of Peter August since France. Jason shared his theory with Anna that she was manifesting her worst fears about Faison. However he knows deep down Anna would never have shot Britt. Jason promises to come back and clean up the area, but would take Anna home first.
Courtesy/ABC
ANNA ADMITS TO EMMA SHE TRIED TO KILL BRITT
At Anna’s, Jason brings her in the front door as Emma is there. Jason tells Emma (Braedyn Bruner) he would like to return and spend the night. A confused and worried Emma get the full story from her grandmother.
Anna explains she tried to kill Britt and she is not as well as she was pretending to be in France. Cut to: Jason cleaning up the site of Anna’s plot against Britt on Mount Emerson. He moves over and finds bullet casings on the ground and examines one of them.
The story climax also signaled the end of the run for Wes Ramsey, who has been showing up on episodes over the last several months as Anna’s dark side conscience. Now that Anna was able to break the psychological hold visions of “Peter” had on her, it ends this latest return of Ramsey’s.
So, what did you think about the scenes between Anna and Jason? Do you think Jason and Britt’s relationship will come to an end now that seemingly Britt revealed she knew Anna was held captive after Cullum came to town? Glad to know Anna won’t be haunted by visions of Peter August anymore? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
The marriage of Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) and Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) may have come to an end by the conclusion of the Tuesday, September 8 episode of General Hospital.
In story, confronted by Trina (Tabyana Ali), and in front of a room full of Quartermaines, Brook Lynn copped to being the other driver involved in the crash that scarred Jordan’s (Tanisha Harper) face and ultimately sent Curtis (Donnell Turner) to prison.
Chase, who thinks at this point Brook Lynn was covering up her involvement by protecting someone else in the family is shocked to learn it’s Brook Lynn who actually was the driver. Brook Lynn explains she never saw any evidence of a crash when she ran into Jordan’s car, so she didn’t stop to check on anyone. Trina and Jordan are outraged as is Chase.
Courtesy/ABC
CHASE PUTS BROOK LYNN ON BLAST
Soon, it comes out that Tracy (Jane Elliot) was involved in the cover-up, and tries to point out that Brook Lynn wasn’t responsible for causing the accident or Curtis punching Isaiah, but Trina says that Brook Lynn tore her family apart, and her father is in prison without the ability to see his newborn son. Trina storms out with Kai (Jen Austin Astrup).
Next, Chase goes on blast on Brook Lynn in front of her entire family. Chase starts to walk out the front door as Brook Lynn tries to stop him. At this point, Chase is all about being lied to, and he goes in on his wife, that they promised there would be no more secrets between them.
Brook Lynn digs a deeper hole for herself when she explained that she’d had a glass of wine before getting in the car to see Gio (Giovanni Mazza) and Trina perform at Charlie’s. She admits to being terrified that she’d lose any chance of adopting baby Phoebe, if she called the police.
TO THE GATEHOUSE HE GOES
Chase is furious that Brook Lynn framed Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) for what she caused and did. With that, Chase leaves Brook Lynn in the dust and heads straight to the gatehouse door to see Willow!
Cut to: Brook Lynn devastated on the staircase of the Q mansion and her dad, Ned Ashton (Wally Kurth) sitting with his daughter to try to comfort her when she decrees her marriage is over.
Now in the pick-up, take a look at the General Hospital teaser video for today’s Wednesday, September 9, episode below.
So, what did you think of how Brook Lynn’s life just blew up in front of her? Does she deserve to have Chase walk out on her for what she did? Do you want Brook Lynn and Chase to work things out, or are you betting by the end of this week Chase and Willow will have hit the sheets? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy is Shaken to the Core, ‘Oh My God! I’m Pregnant!’
Y&R’s Co-Head Writer Jamey Giddens, Ahead of November Stories and Scripts Debut with Dan O’Connor, Explains How Fall Tees Up Their Plans for Genoa City
Kearran Giovanni Debuts on ‘General Hospital’ as Anna Devane’s New Therapist
CBS Announces Fall Preview and Season Premieres for ‘Beyond the Gates’ ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ and ‘The Young and the Restless’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Comes to the Realization She May Be Pregnant … With Carter’s Child!
‘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’
‘General Hospital’s’ Braedyn Bruner Reveals Her Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and How Emma is Getting Her ‘Edge’ Back
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Did Brook Lynn Deserve Chase Walking Out on Her?
GENERAL HOSPITAL Promo: Women on the Edge
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Trina Demands Answers from Brook Lynn, Scout Questions Rocco, and Can Anna Pull the Trigger on Britt?
‘General Hospital’s’ Braedyn Bruner Reveals Her Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and How Emma is Getting Her ‘Edge’ Back
‘Days of our Lives’ Head Writers Give Fall 2026 Preview: Marlena and Stefano’s Chess Mystery, The Arrivals of Dante and Sydney, Romance Drama for Sarah and Others
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