General Hospital
Jen Lilley reveals on Twitter she is staying on as GH's Maxie & to stop the hate towards her from fans!
Photo Credit: Janna Giacoppo
It is never easy and many times awkward for the best of actresses to come on to a daytime soap opera and replace a beloved performer whether it be permanent or temporary. Today, General Hospital’s current Maxie Jones, Jen Lilley took to her Twitter page to inform her followers and many fans of Kirsten Storms, that she is for the forseable future now staying put in the role of Maxie. She also asked fans, for the greater good of the show, to stop any hate towards her for things that are out of her control.
Here is what Jen tweeted, ‘I had to get twitlonger to answer properly. First, I, Jen Lilley, LOVE Kirsten Storms. I think she’s talented, funny, beautiful, and kind. While I have loved my time on GH, I think it’s under the saddest of conditions that I’m there. Because of unforeseen circumstances, I am staying as Maxie. Please know that as a KS fan, I am really sorry. Kirsten is irreplaceable. To keep GH alive, someone had to step into the role. I cannot change what’s happened. Yes, I love being on the show, but if KS could have stayed all along, I would have wished a thousand wishes that I could have come on as a different character, for her sake and your sake as a GH fan. Change is never easy.
I hope you will find it in your hearts to stop being so hateful toward me personally, because honestly, after 6 months of it, I feel broken, and it’s not helping the show. We have to stand united for the sake of General Hospital’s livelihood and for soap fans everywhere. I think all of Kirsten’s wonderful fans know that she’d want her fans to support GH and fight like hell for it’s renewal. With utmost sincerity: Jen Lilley”
While we adore and love and send our best wishes to Kirsten Storms, I think fans should go easy on Lilley, who is doing an admirable job in the role. Kirsten’s shoes can never be filled, but unfortunately in show business, the show must go on. So, let’s all support both Jen, Kirsten, and GH at this most delicate of times.
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.
Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”
Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.
Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.
Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.
However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.
Courtesy/ABC
BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON
Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.
He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.
Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”
General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”
So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
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Give the girl a break already!!
people are mean to hate her for having to replace a charactor. She is doing a great job even though she isnt KS. We all have to deal with change. Someone had to replace her would you turn the job down? Doubt it. I agree with give her a break…
What a small minded world we live in. It’s a soap! People get replaced all the time! Jen is doing a fantastic job taking over this role!
I have to say, I was so ready for Kirstens return. But I found myself last night watching GH and looking @ Jen and thinking “wow, she is maxie now and almost seemed to make me think it would be strange to see Kirsten back”. I wasn’t a fan of Jen up until recently, she has filled the shoes perfectly and is a natural at it now where as in the beggining it seemed she was a little out of place. Here’s to Kirsten’s health. And Thanks Jen for doing a Great Job!!!!
Completely agree! Over the last few days, Jen has really started to look comfortable in the role. She’s doing a great job.
It never ceases to amaze me that people can’t seem to separate characters from their actors, and understand that acting is a business. As much as we are sad when our favorites are replaced with other actors (what stands out in my mind was Laura Wright being replaced by Nicole Forester as Cassie on Guiding Light), it’s irresponsible and silly to take it out on the actors who are doing their jobs.
Well said, Traci.
I agree that everyone should stop being mean to Lilley.. It is not her fault that KS is sick and needs to have a replacement for the show. I wish KS the best in getting better and getting back to the show but until she can come back Lilley is doing a find job in her place. I am sure it is hard to try to come on to a show and fill someone elses shoes so go easy on her
Well said Michael and Jen.
thanks! I hope if Kristin does return, Jen will stay and maybe be a lost sister or near relative. She is doing a great job. I miss KS, but in light of the situation of soaps in general, I support this young actress and GH as a whole.
I don’t understand why people hate her. It’s not like Kirsten was fired. I don’t know what’s wrong with her, but it must be serious. I wish her well and think Ms. Lilley is doing a great job. Why hate her? Did she make Kirsten sick? No. Leave her alone. No other substitute would be better than Jen Lilley is. Al things considered, I think she’s doing a bang up job.
BRAVO Jen! Well said. I think some of the issue is that as fans, we don’t know what happened, or why? When is KS coming back or not? But the truth is, it is NONE of our business why KS is not returning; be it a personal matter, health matter etc. We must STAND TOGETHER to unite to KEEP ALL SOAPS ALIVE!! Grace
I think Jen needs the respect from fans that we give all the other phenomenal actors on GH. She makes an excellent point when she says we need to fight like hell for GH to be renewed. I’m losing it come September in the Orlando, FL area. Bravo Jen.
I honestly don’t know how anyone could possibly blame Jen Lilley for what has happened. I love KS and still miss her but that doesn’t mean Jen hasn’t done a bang-up job with the role. Her Maxie is different from KS’ and it’s taken me a bit to get used to that but she’s a strong actress. I can only imagine what a difficult position she found herself in.
Jen, I support you so much, and you are doing a great job. KS, is not replaceable..you said that, I just said it. Now we need to move on. Change of any kind is never easy. There are a lot of GH fan who do support you. So, stay strong, don’t take to heart what the KS fans may say..they are hurting..and they are hurting you. That does need to stop..I need to find your twitter page and follow and support you..hugs..
Some soap fans take the word FANATIC to a whole new level.
Poor girl. She is doing a bang-up job and receives all this hatred. It’s a sad world we live in.
No one is ever happy. If they had dropped the Maxie character, there would be complaints. If Kirsten Storms does come back, there will be complaints from the people who like Jen Lilley.
Daytime drama fans are a unique breed. Some recasts do not work. This one does. I think we as fans are spoiled because recasts and replacements are not as common or accepted. Why should, when an actor decides to go or is ill and cannot continue, a character be dismissed or a plotline compromised? Best wishes to these two actresses now and onward.
Ya know what peeps…give Jen a break – she’s doing a bang up job as Maxie Jones …no disrespect to Kirsten.
It is very sad the Jen had to write what she did, but it was well said and necessary. I miss Kirsten very much too and hope she is well and back as Maxie ASAP. People need to stop being mean about anything with the soaps we have left and should be happy we have them. I love GH and all of the actors and will hope that they will be on for many more years and we should be grateful when one is out sick that someone comes in and does a great job filling in for them. We are happy to have you Jen and thank you for keeping our Maxie going! Now if you can get her back with Spinelli all will be well!
shes doing a fine job playing maxie ,I liked her the first day she hit port charles,and was hoping that when k s comes back they can find a place to keep her,its not easy to replace someone and jenn lilley came in a gave it her all.the only reason I yelled at her today on her facebook page ,was to tell her not to pick on elizabeth , maxie is being naughty ,and to tell her she is doing a fine job being maxie and if shes at general hospital to stay,good.I really like her .and everyone should back off ,shes doing her job,and in my eyes ,doing one hell of a job.you go jenn lilley.
and jenn lilley just liked my post.shes so sweet.
This is the bad side of twitter. “Fans” can tweet hateful crap directly to the actors. I just don’t understand it. If you don’t like the actor don’t even bother to tweet anything.
If she feels broken, maybe she should delete her twitter and not bother. Wonder if it’s contractually required by GH that she has it?
I think Jen is doing an AMAZING job as Maxie. I enjoy KS but almost would be odd to see her back in the role. Keep up the Great work Jen. For all the haters out there, grow up, she has a job to do and is doing it quite well. KS is gone for now so it is what it is.
I’m confused it was my understanding that Kirsten Storm’s tweeted that she was returning to the role of Maxie at the end of the month. Is that no longer happening.
She did, then a week or so later it was confirmed she wasn’t returning as planned. I think she either left the series or the series let her go.
Good grief, how mean spirited people are! Not Jen’s fault Kirsten is ill. My only problem has been that Jen & the new Kate look too much alike, sometimes I glance up & can’t tell who is on the screen. Leave Jen alone & bring back the original Kate! (I guess I am being mean myself, not intended that way though!)
You’re a great Maxie. You can’t help someone got sick. You go.
I think Jen is a great actress, and has captured the “Maxie” personality perfectly. I had no idea people were treating her badly because of KS’ problems which she has no control over.
I love KS too, but I’m hoping Jen will enjoy her days as long as GH remains on the air.
Not upset by this at all!!! I much prefer Jen over Kirsten.
I am so proud and happy for Jen, I’ve had several conversations with her on Twitter and she’s nothing but a pure angel. I wish her nothing but the best and lots of years here on “GH” as Maxie!!
Jen is wonderful and brought comedy back to GH. She should not be so emersed in Twitter to feel “broken” by dopey fans.
to all the haters out there: if you don’t have anything nice to say then keep your mouth shut…………………….
Agreed!!!
I’m not a full-time viewer but when I do tune in, I think Jen Lilley is great when she’s on.
I do not think that fans should take it out personally on the actress, but to be in this business, Jen will have to understand not EVERYONE is going to like you. I don’t mind her, but she is not Maxie. She portrays Maxie in a way that is very unrecognizable to me and that is not her fault, it is just fact, in my opinion. I think for her to be “broken” that some are critical is a little over the top. There were people that certainly sent hate towards Kirsten, and probably still do, as well as many other actors and actresses on GH. If people are sending ugly things like “You’re ugly”, or antyhing to do with her PERSONALLY that is beyond uncalled for, but if people are sending their opinions of her portrayl, she needs to let that go. I think GH should have written Maxie out, it would relieve drama from the audience, less confusion and pressure on KS’s return, and Maxie is barely in a storyline (except for Matt’s and her lack of chemistry with Jason Cook has significantly pissed off many M&M fans anyway, so that is pointless).
I completely agree. I have nothing against Jen. But since she took over the writers have made Maxie a bratty, teenage girl. It’s annoying as hell. Just write her off the show.
I’m fine with Jen. She didn’t walk into an easy situation. If anything, I wish the writers of GH would start to give Maxie more character. She comes from great “stock” to be so insecure and shallow. Since they are both connected to Felicia, if Frisco comes back, this could be an interesting dynamic for both of them on figuring out how their relationships with Felicia played into where they are now.
People need to grow up and leave Jen Lilley alone. Yes, she’s no Kristen Storms. Nevertheless, I think that Lilley is doing a great job portraying Maxie and we should give Lilely a chance instead of bashing her for the simple reason that she replaced Storms.
Keep the good work Lilley and don’t listen to these juvenile haters.
If you wouldn’t play the part so whiney I would be ok with the change even though I really miss Kristen Storms.
I love all of these “critics” – who have never acted a day in their life – weighing in on something of which they know nothing. Jen has done a great job making the very best of a bad situation, and I think it’s time for everybody to just grow up and accept the fact that things sometimes change because of conditions beyond everybody’s control. I’m sure neither KS or JL are happy about these circumstances, but give the girl some credit for God’s sake. That’s the problem w/the internet – it’s easy to be an obnoxious bully when you remain anonymous.
First of all, how do you know that no one here has ever acted or otherwise been involved in the industry? That’s an awfully presumptuous thing to say.
Second, by your logic, no one should have an opinion about a book if they’re not a writer or about a painting if they’re not an artist or about a dish of food if they’re not a chef. Come on now! A person can learn how to appreciate and judge the quality of an art form without being a practitioner of it. While personal attacks on JL are uncalled for, any viewer of GH certainly has the right to evaluate her acting. The audience is the reason the show is produced.
And let me remind you that you are also an anonymous commenter.
I am enjoying her version of Maxie very much and am happy she is there. I especially love her funny chemistry with the character of Anthony.
I think she’s fabulous as Maxie! I don’t miss Kristen Storms one bit.
maybe if they softened her look… too much eye liner and bright red lipstick… she’s not KS…. i have to support my soaps first… the soap as a whole… who can’t say…. over the years…. 30+ years soap fan…. that we’ve seen favorite actors come and go… give her more love scenes with matt.
I read her twitter she gets lots of love, really she needs to ignore the haters and concentrate on the positive. All daytime actors get this, anyone in the public eye really. Also having read her other tweets before she unleashed this response I have to say she comments on the show, who she thinks the character should be with, who she likes/dislikes and read any almost any other GH actors twitter Bradford, Rebecca herbst, Steve Burton, Kelly Monaco, Jonathan Jackson, they for the most part stay out of this (with the exception of Becky’s firing) and she needs to take the same approach.
I wonder if people would feel the same if their favorite actor was replaced?
I love Kirsten’s style of playing Maxi-but I also feel Lilly has done and outstanding job to step into such a unique character role. I wish the best for both of them but i feel Lilly has been a fresh spin on Maxi and have enjoyed her very much. Maybe she can find out she is a twin and never knew it until now . That wa they both could be on the show-that would be a hoot.
or when kirsten comes back jenn lilley should stay on and be a new character ,I like her to ,she plays maxi very well .
Your not hated your just not her.
Still really missing KS over here! I’m sorry JL feels that fans don’t like her, but it’s not personal. It’s her acting that’s been a disappointment, and she needs to understand that part of working in the arts is accepting the audience’s right to analyze and critique your performance.
Maxie has always been written as a self-centered, manipulative, sometimes bitchy character, but KS found a way to soften those sides of Maxie by adding layers to her dialogue. Underneath the arrogance and the pushiness and the snark, you knew she had a conscience and a heart. KS even found a way to make a lot of her antics come off as cute–just Maxie being Maxie.
Unfortunately, JL’s delivery is one-dimensional and doesn’t convey that kind of depth. I often catch myself repeating her lines as KS might have said them and thinking how much more sympathetic they sound when read that way. Lately, the writers have been trying to redeem Maxie with this silly plot about how she tries to punish herself with a false murder confession. But what they’re really trying to do is compensate for JL’s inability to make Maxie likable without such plot devices. I actually find the character so annoying now that I usually change the channel when she’s on.
I’ll never stop hoping that KS will return as Maxie. I know nothing about JL as a person, so I don’t have any issue with her, and maybe she would be a good actress in another role. But she’s not a good fit for this one, and like any consumer of entertainment, I have the right to my opinion about it.