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Ingo Rademacher Opens About Mental Health Struggles Since Being Fired from General Hospital

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: ABC

Back in November of 2021, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ingo Rademacher was fired by ABC for not complying with their vaccine mandate policy. Until that point, Ingo had played General Hospital leading man, Jasper ‘Jax” Jacks, on and off for over 20 years including runs in: 1996–2013, 2016–17 and 2019–2021.

One month after he was let go, Rademacher filed a lawsuit against ABC/Disney over his dismissal. In June of 2023, a Los Angeles judge ruled in ABC’s favor. However, Ingo is appealing the decision.

Taking to his Instagram, Ingo opened up about his mental health struggles through all the changes and upheaval in his life which included the opportunity to play Jax on a regular basis on the ABC daytime drama series.

Photo: JPI

Ingo expressed, “I apologize for not having posted much in the last year and a half. To be completely honest, for the first time in my life, I’ve been faced with some mental health struggles, that’s not something I’ve ever had to face before. I’m a lot better now but the first year was rough. Being ousted at the show for my political views, my case against ABC/Disney is now in the appeals process. Having to pack up my family from a life that we loved, questioning our move to FL. Having to take the kids out of a great swim team. Taking them away from their incredible jujitsu family and Professor in LA.”

Next, Rademacher shared how he thought he would be at GH for many years to come, stating, “On top of that, I really identified as my character on General Hospital for decades and I could’ve been there and would’ve been there for many more decades to come. This isn’t a boo-hoo me post it’s just honest. It’s where I’m at. Struggling with being not that motivated also comes with the added bonus of extra weight (getting fat)”

Photo: JPI

Although, Ingo says he is not at the body weight he wants to be, he believes things have taken a turn and he has found some motivation to get back into the shape he desires: “I weighed in at 222 pounds a few weeks ago and I should be around 190. Actually 185, let’s not try to soften the blow. Yep. Hard for me to actually say that because it’s embarrassing. Especially for someone who puts a lot of emphasis on fitness. Anyway, I hope to be more vocal again soon. I’m more motivated now. Stay tuned. More to come.”

What do you think about Ingo sharing his mental health struggles since being let go by ABC and GH, and then suing them, plus moving his family completely across the county? Comment below.

 

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Not to make a joke or anything, because there ARE folks with serious mental health struggles out there. But if you’re a transphobic, antivax MAGAtt, I would say your mental health issues were very present BEFORE you got fired.

I guess being depressed (which is what his description sounds like) because you’ve screwed your life up DOES qualify as a mental health issue (depression), but I can’t get over thinking that it does a disservice to those suffering from mental health issues when we accept someone’s characterization of “I’m unhappy because I made crappy life choices and they caught up with me” as a mental health issue. I’m not a psychologist, and I’m not qualified to diagnose anybody’s anything, but the article sure makes it sound like he’s trying to call what he’s going through “mental health issues” because that sounds so much more sympathetic than “My whole antivax thing blew up in my face, I screwed up my family’s life as well as my own, and my life basically sucks now because of things I did and choices I made, so I’m miserable and have gained weight.” Maybe we need two different terms for two different kinds of “mental health issues,” I don’t know.

And geez, he’s transphobic too? Wow.

Did I understand the article correctly that he moved to Florida? Oh lordy, how absolutely perfect. (Current Florida resident here; cannot get out of this state fast enough. Six more months.)

Oh shut up! I guess you’re perfect!

If by “perfect,” you mean that I know not to (1) whine after my decision to put my costars at risk has adverse consequences for my life, (2) retweet transphobic comments about a costar, and (3) compare Covid restrictions to what Anne Frank (and by extension, other Jews and members of other targeted groups) went through, then yes, I’m “perfect”–guilty as charged. Thanks for calling me out on it!

And now more and more doctors and scientists who no longer fear retaliation have come out and verified the vaccines were dangerous and have caused serious harm to people, especially young men and the elderly. Ingo was right to question the safety of these vaccines. Even Fauci has confirmed that the vaccines were not reliable as millions of people who took the vaccines still got COVID and spread COVID, so maybe you should look into all of the medical community who can explain why the vaccines were indeed dangerous in many ways. Open your mind to learning what so many doctors have reported about the damage the vaccines caused. These are not Anti-Vaxxers!! They were just against the COVID vaccines!

I think it’s interesting that he characterizes his dismissal as having been for his “political views” rather than for his personal choice not to get the Covid vaccine. I’d most likely be sympathetic to what he went through–I find myself almost always rooting for employees over employers, if only because of the enormous power imbalance–but if I were his coworker, I would have expected our employer to take action and would have been glad when they did.

I think his view that he would have been on GH for decades is . . . unrealistic. Jax had gone and come back multiple times already before Ingo was fired, and each time Jax came back, I felt he was more and more peripheral to the story. The fact that Jax’s departure, when Ingo was fired, had practically zero effect on the story at the time suggests that as a character, he had largely run his course. (In contrast, they actually had to write/rewrite a story around Steve Burton’s exit.)

Well said Michael. You covered it all from his misconception about why he was let go to Jax basically becoming a “talk to” character with little reason (other than Joss) to stay on the canvas.

He didn’t get fired for his political beliefs. And continuing to say that will ensure he’ll never work again. The appeal is a loser.

I was brought up to–

Never speak opinions of – politics, religion,..

Excuse yourself from the conversation and say–

I’m sorry I am not informed on the subject, then excuse yourself by

saying I’ll return shortly..

And do not return until the subject has been closed..

Doing that will keep you loveable..

—— Ingo said- he was- ”ousted at the show for my political views”

He should have kept his political opinions to himself-

I have found it works very well 🙂

I’m sorry for anyones struggles,but,many did whatever it took to keep jobs durning the pandemic.Some in the medical field paid with their lives.I will never forget.You stood for your beliefs and took the consequences,others did and have pulled themselves up to a new career.God bless you and yours.

It went further. He was transphobic,which impacted Cassandra.

Good. All for Ingo

It’s almost like the “Drew Barrymore” strike comment…. he making it worse for himself the more he talks about it, spins it, or tries to explain it.

The difference is I don’t believe Drew Barrymore was intending to call off as she did; I genuinely think she was trying to come back as a platform to discuss things… and it backfired on her. This individual, however, continues to put their foot in their mouth.

I’ll say this. While I’m sorry Ingo has been struggling with his mental health, rules are there for a reason, and he chose not to follow them. Choices have consequences,

The “woah is me” attitude is so off-putting. He claimed his decision to not get the vaccine was religious, and now he’s claiming it is political…. so which is it? He is a self-centered, transphobic terrorist, who supporting the terrorist attack on the Capital, and has said some real nasty things about others, who got what he deserved when he fired himself from his job. It’s so off-putting, and not he’s coming off as fat-phobic with his supposed weight gain, as if it’s a genuine negative. That is on HIM not him firing himself. He was terror on that set (as evident on social media by mocking his co-stars) and honestly, the canvas is better without Jax on it. And he won’t be winning his appeal at all, and even if he did (by a small margin), I doubt it would mean he’d be re-hired any way. Roseanne Barr was fired for her racist rants… yet, he was ignored by Disney-ABC and soap media. Should’ve been immediately dismissed.

He had to face the consequences of his choices & actions & is whining abt it now!

EXACTLY! And is unable to handle the consequence. I’m by no means a Steve Burton fan, but he took the decision he made and accepted it. He didn’t publicly whine. He didn’t sue out of spite. He knew the decision he had made would have the consequence it did, hoped for a different outcome, and moved along with his career / life. He did not play the victim card.

Looks like he is having fun to me! Nothing is forever unless you are smart enough to have your own business ! Good luck Ingo move on

He always posts pics of his “good life”, surfing, etc. Meantime, he complains he has no money but had a place in Hawaii (which is VERY expensive) and lives quite the luxurious life. He’s a whiner and relies on his fans to fight for him in the hope he’ll get his job back. I guess his not caring if he gave the virus to others, or how he found a transgender tweet so amusing he had to retweet it, or his moronic, clueless comparison between covid restrictions and the lack of freedom for Anne Frank, a young girl who had to hide in an attic from the nazis but ultimately was found and died in a concentration camp, is something to be supported and applauded by some. Not decent people.

I was a huge fan and as a journalist, I gave him a lot of publicity. I am very disappointed in him for lots of reasons. He trashed his career.

I don’t miss you or the character of Jax one bit since your dismissal. Now you’ve resurfaced because you want money. I would imagine that the cast and crew at GH feel comfortable that your negativity is a distant memory.

I’m sorry for the mental health struggles he’s going through. As someone that battles my own mental health issues on a daily basis, I don’t wish them on anyone. But as others have pointed out, Ingo is a hard person to feel sorry for based on the things he’s said and done. He brought this on himself. He made a big deal about his personal liberties and his personal choices. He made his choices alright.

The thing is, no matter who you are, an actor, an athlete, a musician, a former president, or John Q. walking down the street, there are consequences for the things we say and do, and consequences for the choices and decisions we make in our life.

I honestly don’t miss him on GH. But I do hope for his own sake, for his family’s sake, for his own sanity, that he gets his life back on track.

Time for both sides to make amends cause it’s the best for the show. GH has struggled mightly on Carly’s love life since Jax. Wright only has couple chemistry with Ingo. Drew is Carly’s most boring pairing in 25 years. Cameron Mathison is not working out. Cynthia Watros has been a excellent addition four years in and has lots of couple chemistry with Benard. Nina and Sonny are good together. I cried at their wedding it was so beautiful. Bring back Jax for Carly. Ingo may be ready to see the light and fix his wrongs.

Nah. He burned those bridges. HE did with HIS ignorant words.

No. There is not “making amends” with the things he’s said and done, not to mention he sued ABC and is appealing because he lost. He’s done. Maybe a far right “news” outlet will hire him or some far right show. Who’d want to hire an actor who has sued ABC. Way too many actors to choose from than to risk hiring him. He screwed himself.

What if Ingo had a wakeup call? He tries to win back the trust and respect of everyone as a first step to earning forgiveness. Everyone has a right to learn from their mistakes. You would welcome him back to GH if he saw the error of his ways? I believe in second chances.

He just said he’s going to appeal the lawsuit. He’s STILL trying to blame ABC for his own decision. ABC gave him and others a choice; Steve Burton didn’t take the vaccine but didn’t burn bridges; he didn’t sue them and because of his more professional response, he probably has a door open for him at GH should he choose to go back. Ingo hasn’t changed. He’s in his 50s. He retweeted a cruel transgender insult and he made light of a young girl, Anne Frank’s having to hide from the nazis. She was ulitmately caught and died in a concentration camp. He compared HER hiding from the nazis to covid restrictions, saying covid restrictions were worse. You can’t get much lower than that; he’s despicable.

There’s no return for Ingo to any Disney owned show (and likely most of Hollywood).

Wright also had good chemistry with Roger Howarth as both Todd and Franco.

Agreed with your assessment of Mathison. What started out with good potential while Drew was held captive has segued into an extremely dull partnership.

WAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH…Dude let’s ask NLG how she felt while you were bullying her. That alone should have got your fired. Go away..

I was a huge Jax fan back in the day and was always excited when Ingo and the character returned. However, this whole situation and his attitude was a big turn off. He totally uprooted his family from Hawaii to return the last time to GH so it’s not like this should be a big deal. Aside from this, I thought the character Jax had run his course the last time with not much to do. He hasn’t been missed.

He’s obnoxious and way too full of himself. He made a decision. But instead of respecting ABC’s decision to require a vaccine during a worldwide pandemic, he made it about himself. He sued. He went to every media outlet who would have him to complain. He posted crap on IG, Twitter, and FB. He burned bridges which is an understatement, and sued a major entertainment corporation instead of understanding their right to require a vaccine at a time when there was a lot of virus out there, and being in an enclosed work environment posed a risk to all. And, to top it off, at the time it was believed the vaccine would stop transmission. All he had to do was wait out the mandate like Steve Burton did. When/if Steve wants to come back to GH the door is open. Ingo shut the doors on himself by his desire for a big payout… And that’s in addition to his bigoted transgender retweet and his covid restriction Holocaust comparison. He’s not too bright or empathetic.

Don’t miss Ingo/Jax one bit. Good riddance. Good luck to him. That is all.

A trump-humping homo/transphobic anti vaxxer is sad and not taking responsibility for his own actions?

Imagine my surprise!

Cynical Devil that I am, I can’t help but think Ingo’s trying to generate some sympathy for himself among the GH fanbase here.

The recent deaths of Billy Miller & Tyler Christopher and their well documented struggles with mental health issues have had overwhelming response from the fans & GH cast members on this board & others. Maybe Ingo thought he could play that card in some sort of desparate “Hail Mary” play to get back on GH?

Or am I reading too much into this?

Wouldn’t put it past him. But then again he’s big with the anit-vax and/or Trump crowd. But if they couldn’t get enough votes for the Presidency and the midterms, I think he’s barking up the wrong party, lol.

I admire anyone who discloses mental health issues; that includes Ingo. I hope he is able to get the help he needs and lives a more productive, happy, well-adjusted life. And that is where my benevolence towards him ends…

His assumption that he would have been on GH for decades more is asinine.

No it’s not Assinine

Sorry, but timing of this is just sick. Right after the tragedies of Billy Miller and Christpher Tyler. It seems that he is using the fan’s recent, tragic losses as a way to get sympathy for himself.

When I heard him speak in an interview and he gave the reason religious exemption for not taking the covid vaccine when he was at General Hospital to me personally it wasn’t a religious exemption reason it appeared to me to be for health and fitness reasons. When it comes down to it basically if your employed by a company and they require something then if you want to keep your job you do it. If you’re a doctor or a nurse working at the hospital in order to keep your job you have to get the vaccine.

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‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’

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Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.

Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.

The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.

Photo: Hallmark

Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”

In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.

It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.

Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.

You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.

So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.

 

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‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?

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On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.

As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.

Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?

Courtesy/ABC

Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.

BROTHERLY LOVE?

Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”

With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”

BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE

Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”

So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair

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After the Wednesday, April 29 episode of General Hospital, it’s clear outside interference and other circumstances are set to blow Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) marriage sky high, as Michael (Rory Gibson) reveals his plans to entrap Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and use her relationship with Chase to do it!

In story, Michael dropped by unexpectedly to Carly’s (Laura Wright). A plotting Michael reveals his plan to nudge Willow and Chase into having an affair. Michael hopes it would create both a political and personal scandal, where Willow would lose her seat in congress. In the scenario, she would be having an affair with her ex-husband, while taking care of her supposed disabled husband, Drew (Cameron Mathison), who cannot speak and is confined to a wheelchair, which in turn will look horrible for Willow’s character.

Carly asked does he really want to destroy his cousin, Brook Lynn’s life in the process? Michael goes in on Chase’s holier than thou attitude, and says he is going to set-up the circumstances that would lead Chase and Willow to betray their spouses, and hit the sheets together. Michael swears to Carly what the two of them do is up to them, but he’s going to go on the offense with this.

MICHAEL HAS BACK-UP

Later, Jacinda (Paige Herschell) is talking with Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) at Crimson and how much she dislikes Willow because of what she has done to Michael. Just then, Michael shows up and tells Jacinda privately, he’s figured out a way to fight Willow. Looks like Jacinda might work with Michael to bring down Willow and use Chase as the person to do it!

At the hospital, Lucas (Van Hansis) tells Josslyn (Eden McCoy) that Carly is cheating on Jack, but he doesn’t know with who. Josslyn suddenly flashes back to the moment she found her mother harboring a fugitive, Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart), in her attic, and as figured out that her mother is sleeping with him. She heads out.

Courtesy/ABC

BRENNAN IS ABOUT TO LEARN ABOUT CARLY

Next thing you know, Josslyn has showed up inside Jack’s (Chris McKenna) hotel room at the Metro Court and when he enters his room, he is shocked to find her there. He lays into her for not keeping his distance and that Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) will have no problem killing her if he knows she’s WSB. Josslyn fires back that he is only concerned about that because his relationship with her mother depends on her being safe. But then, she lays the boom, and tells Jack, Well, you’re too late. You already lost her.”

LULU GETS A GLIMPSE OF CASSIUS’ TEMPER

In addition, Lulu (Alexa Havins) sees a different side of “Nathan.” Since she is unaware that the man before her is his twin, Cassius Fasion (Ryan Paevey), he tells her that Rocco (Finn Carr) blabbed that he shot Cullum to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), and now he thinks they should send him away to stop him from talking to everyone else. This concerns Lulu, who rails at Nathan for telling her what to do with her son and that she isn’t going to abandon him. With “Nathan’s” outburst at her on the matter, will she finally get a clue this is not the man she thinks it is?

So, what do you think of Michael’s plan to push Willow and Chase into an affair? Will it work or backfire? Do you think Joss will reveal that Valentin is the man sleeping with Carly to Brennan, which will send him in a rage? Will Lulu continue to be clueless about “Nathan?” Weigh-in via the comment section below. But first, take a look at the GH video tease for today’s April 30 episode.

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