General Hospital
Kristen Alderson "Why I Decided To Leave General Hospital" Video Message To Fans!

Courtesy/YouTube
As she had promised, Daytime Emmy winner Kristen Alderson tonight posted a very special video message to her fans offering an explanation and her side of the story as to why she decided to not re-sign with General Hospital end continue in the role of Kiki Jerome. The actress is finishing up her time at the ABC soap opera this month.
On this the day that the last episode of One Life to Live aired on ABC three years ago, Alderson next was able to take the character of Starr Manning to General Hospital. However, after the Prospect Park legal entanglements, ultimately Kristen’s could not longer play Starr, and GH created a new role for her that of Kiki, the daughter of mob gal Ava Jerome (Maura West) and daughter to Dr. Silas Clay (Michael Easton). Below are Kristen’s sentiments shared in the video on her departure.
Kristen Alderson: ” I have had the best time over the past three years. And this decision is purely spur of the moment, kind of an epiphany that I had that I have been in this amazing soap bubble since I was six-years-old, and now I am twenty-three, and I have never done anything else, or pushed myself, or challenged myself to do other things, and not necessarily in the industry, but things in life like … taking a class here or there for something other than acting, and getting back into singing, which you guy know I love to do … so that would be really exciting. And who knows where this road is going to take me? But, this had all happened very quickly, but I am prepared for the worst, and I am prepared for any failures.
I am prepared for all the excitement it will bring, and it’s just a new chapter in my life, and I couldn’t be more grateful to the support you guys have given me, and all of the love. I love you guys so much. I’ve always cared about you. I’ve grown up with you, you’ve grown up with me, and I am always going to be a part of your life. I will be tweeting and instragramming … and you know I will! ‘Thank You’ to Ron (Carlivati) and Frank Valentini, and everyone at ABC for all of your support, and ‘Thank You’ to the fans … you are the best in the world. Soap fans are family, and you always will be be.”
Watch Kristen’s goodbye message after the jump! Then share your thoughts on what she had to say in the comment section below!
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
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
‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?
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.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair
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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GOOD LUCK SHORTY ,YOU’LL DO WELL IN WHATEVER YOU DO,!
I love the ‘shorty’ reference 😀 I ditto that!
I am going to miss you on GH! Happy for you to be trying new stuff!
Good luck!
Yaaah!
you go Kristen!
get out before you grow old in a soap opera with a face-lift a wig and/or a 100 hair extensions and a pound of botox!
Explore and find your dream!!
I wish you the best!
I grew old watching soap operas…i didnt get a pound of botox but ive gained several pounds of weight…lol
Hey, Su….are we possibly talking about Sharon???? I know how much you love her….LOL.
Yup….I concur. Kristen will succeed in whatever she decides to do with/in her life. Why? She’s a beautiful human being; inside and out. Good fortune to her….not necessarily in monetary value; but a rich life.
SonnyCorinthos was holding her at gunpoint..or MonicaQuartermaine was…that video looked pretty suspect…OMG…HEATHER!!!!!!
I can understand why she wants to do it, and I wish her the best! But she will be missed!
I agree.
She should go to college!
Going to college is probably her best bet. Leave Hollywood alone and focus on your academics Kirsten.
Wishing you all the best in everything you do! We will miss you!
Yes we will miss our little shorty tons. I hope they don’t kill her off, so she can come back, if she wants to. We love you kristen, I have been watching you, since you were six
Same here, Susan. I have this sneaking suspicion that she and Chad are no longer in ‘paradise’. Could that be one of the reasons she is leaving? Just a thought.
Good luck to u, u r an amazing actress and imsure u will do great!
Good Luck Kristen. Take on the world and shine brightly. May you take on new adventures and show yourself what life can offer. Love Ya !!!
You will be missed on GH no doubt about that. Taking a challenge/step in a different direction is not a bad thing, you grow and learn and become a better person in the end. As always wishing you and your family all the best in life. Good luck to you and your brother as well. Hope to see both of you happy and successful in your endeavors.
Wishing you the best…..
Wishing you the best of luck the world has to offer you. Hopefully GH makes your exist with that open door, that you can always come back if you wanted to. You will be missed thats for sure.
What a beautiful, articulate young woman you’ve grown up to be! As one of the millions who watched you grow up I wush you God speed!
Great character and actress. Being a fan of ABC soaps, it was great to watch her grow up on tv. She brought new life, to General Hospital. Good luck with you future endeavors.
DITTO!! I will always love you, “Starr”…..I’ve missed you, “Blair”, and “Todd”…..grew up watching them together, and watching you grow UP as a person and an actress!!
Dear Kristin:
Oh My God you will be so missed it won’t feel like a good day without our daily dose of Starr in the sky. lol. Idk have or use Twitter so I hope you still will Facebook too. Wishing you all that life has to offer you.
Much Love, Joe
Im so sad to see you go but I know you will do great things! I have known you since you were little Star on OLTL. Thank you for letting us watch you grow up all these years. I’ll be seeing you on Instagram! Keep posting
I’m going to miss you..good luck
Best wishes, God bless.
Loved the acting chapter aka the early years
Can’t wait for the next chapter, the singing years
Loved you on OLTL and GH. Looking forward to
Hearing you accepting your first Grammy.♡♡♡
kristen alderson good luck everything you do i miss you on gh i watch you on oltl and gh. gl what you do singing all something
Good Luck and God Bless!! I have been watch you since you were little girl on OLTL ,you have grown Into a lovely young lady! I’m sure you will do great in anything you put you heart and mind into!! God Speed Kristen!! Xoxo
Perfectly stated. I so concur. Godbless Kristen.
Such a fan you will do well what ever your path will take you you will be missed from Canada
If she wants to go to college great, but not necessary. I would love to see her make it as a singer. I think she is talented enough. If she gets the urge to join a soap again and GH isn’t available, I hope she goes to DAYS.
College not necessary? First time I’ve ever heard that advice…LOL. Actually, she can do both..a college education is never a loss.
Good Luck to you 🙂
You will be missed
I don’t think it really was her decision, I think it was the network’s. Ultimately I think it was a mistake – Kiki served her place in the storylines and Alderson always put in a solid performance. However it seems as though she has decided to take the dismissal as a challenge and given that attitude I am sure it will tun out to be a blessing in disguise. Onward and upward, Kristen!
I kind of get that impression, too. She’ s known Frank and Ron since she was a little girl and they chose her as one of the few to live on in GH. It might have been a salary dispute and whomever is in charge didn’t feel the character at this point warranted more money or perhaps wanted her to accept a salary cut. Out of respect and friendship to Kristen, they may have allowed this”version” of events to be the official story. I’m rarely on Twitter and haven’t been for a while but she seemed to love working at. GH. Seemed kind of sudden as even she said in her video.
On the other hand, maybe she contemplated the move made by Kelly Thiebaud and realized Kelly gave herself four years on a soap and moved on…maybe Kristen realized she’s been on four times
as long and should take the plunge. Time will tell…if she winds up on another soap in the near future.
Either way great girl/actress. Will miss her on GH; I actually liked her as KiKi… Best to you, Kristen.
ya, maybe…it was a mutual parting between her and the network? and, instead of going recurring status, she opted to depart the role.
how about just taking it at face value and not trying to make it into something other than what Kristen herself says it is………….
Good point, Jeremy. Could be that as well.
@Samantha – Fans of soaps & tv dramas just love their…well…drama, don’t they? It’s not enough for them to watch it on screen. They have to extend it to off-screen, behind-the-scenes, & in actor’s personal lives. I tend to do what you do, Samantha. Believe the statement. She didn’t have to put one out at all. That she did is worth something. To brush it aside & say she was pushed out is insulting to the actress. Look, she’s financially secure – unlike a lot of 23-year-old’s – and she’s worked with these two professionals – FV & RC – for 17 years. The young lady needs to see what else is out there in life other than working on a soap! Good for her for not continuing to play it safe & spreading her wings. I wish her the best.
Samantha and. KansasGuest…I can hear you ! So can Jeremy and NickD. We all like her and wish her the best just as you do. I, as many, have watched her since she was a little girl, I was thrilled when she continued on with. GH, actually like her as KikI, and am sad we’ll be losing her in the role. That doesn’t mean we’re not allowed to speculate if there was some behind-the-scene reason…I’m willing to bet she and her friends speculate on some things too whether it be other actors, friends, business associates, etc. doesn’t imply anything negative. What IS negative and insulting are your comments to those of us who wonder if there’s any more to the reason. but, as you said, soap fans just love their drama. They like to initiate animosity…
Bravo, Rebecca. Thank you for saying it so well. I was too tired to react.
Will you be my ghost writer?
Pass me the bon bons please.
Well thank you, Harry. Vanilla or chocolate?
Yeah, how about just taking her word for it?
I’ve watched you since a little girl on one life to live and you are AMAZING!! although you will be sooooo missed on GH I wish you the best honey with whatever you do. Good luck!!
I am happy for her to wake up and go try her dreams ,shevis way too young and such a great singer she very pretty i think she could be a great pop star or major actresses. If Nathon Fallon can cross over and become a prime time hottie she can too
I just want to say that I have watched you grow up right before my eyes. You are a beautiful and an awesome actress. Wish the best in your music career. Can’t wait to hear some music….I got a little teary eyed when I found out that you were leaving GH. But I’m not mad that you want to pursue other things. So, I wish you the best of the luck…going to miss you but I’ll be seeing you in other things. Best of luck to you and Chad.
I am so sorry you are leaving I watched you since you were a little tike. Best of luck n I wish you all happiness n will miss you
Good luck with all your inspirations. I watched you grow up and you turned into a amazing young beautiful women. Go after your dreams♡♡ good luck you will be missed ♡
This is not the end, this is the beginning. Good Luck Kristen.
What a great, encouraging thought, Linda!
Kristen u r the best I hope gh leaves it so u can come back if u want and I hope I will see u on something eles ur the best loved u since oltl
So beautifully put, she covers it all with such intelligence and balance– she is truly special, bright, and deserves new adventures. God bless this gracious “star!”
good luck in your future it’s a great world out there have fun in what ever you choose and much happiness to you
I truly enjoyed your time on GH and wish you the very best in your future endeavors. Now’s the time of your life to explore everything and anything. Go do it! You will be missed on GH.
I will miss seeing her on GH. Wishing her well in whatever she chooses to do next! Hope one day she will be back.
I will miss you Starr!
Wishing you all the best Starr ( Kristen) you go back to school!
Good for you go too college have some fun enjoy yourself you have been working since you were little take a break your an awesome actress you have a great voice you will be missed but you have to do it now when your young good luck your fan since you came on OLTL Cheryl
Kristen,
I’ve been watching you since you were a little girl. Thank you so much for all of your wonderful performances. I loved Starr!!! Felt like she was a part of my family. You and Roger had a special magic together. I’m sure he will miss you too!
All the best in your future endeavors. It takes a lot of courage to do what you are doing. I applaud you for it.
Regards!
Will miss you Kristen….. Sending so much luck and good wishes to you!
Wish you the very best
Best of all to you…you will be missed greatly.
So sad to see You go, you’re one of my faves. I started watching GH when Starr, John and Todd switched over, then I got stuck on it and watch it every single day. I miss OLTL, but GH is my fave now. Good luck in your new adventure In life. Hope all goes well for you!
If/when she decides to come back,”Days of Our Lives” should recast Paige with Kristen in the role. That way,she’d be reunited on screen with her former TV mom,Kassie DePaiva.
She is a fine young women. I give her credit for not playing it safe and riding the coattails of her soap experience. 23 years old. She has a whole big world filled with dreams and possibilities. Go out, have fun, learn and live life. Someday she could return, stronger, wiser and bring more different experience to her character. Good luck Kristen.
Hi Kristen ,
Wishing you all the best , I have watched you grow to an amazing young lady on One Life To Live .. I wish you nothing but the best on your new journey .. You will be missed ❤️❤️❤️ xoxo
I hope that her spur of the moment epiphany pays off for her. Although it wouldn’t of been easy she could of taken a class while on a soap. Its a hard world to make it when all she has ever done is appeared on a soap. GH has many hiatuses. Perfect time for her to spread her wings. Hope this gives her want she needs.
Good Luck to you in all your endeavors. We have been fans of yours since One Life to Live. We love when you sing . You have a beautiful voice. We will be looking forward to the next amazing chapter in your life. Evelyn and Michael Franzese
Thank you Kristen for your heartfelt message. I will miss you and best of luck of what you find down that road! I know you’ll do well.
Good Luck! Enjoyed the great many years you have acting… We love ya!!!!!
I wish her well. I understand needing a break from soaps. I won’t be missing Kiki though!
God bless!!