Connect with us

General Hospital

37

Lipstick-Gate Continues! Andy Towle Posts Response To GH Head Scribe Ron Carlivati's Comments To Gay Blog's "Felix" Backlash!

By Michael Fairman

Published

on

Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

Perhaps Andy Towle of the uber-popular gay blog, Towleroad realized he spoke to soon after General Hospital’s head writer, Ron Carlivati gave Towle and his readers a lashing for their negative and often offensive comments on the creation and execution of the brand new character of student nurse Felix Dubois on GH.

Felix has thus far only aired on one episode, and somehow this controversy had spun out of control.  However as we reported yesterday, Ron took to the Towleroad site and expressed his outrage and disappointment at the comments which was instigated by Towle’s original post which stated, “General Hospital debuted a new character this week, a gay nurse played by actor Marc Anthony Samuel. To establish his character as gay, his first scenes involved him pulling out a tube of lipstick and offering to touch up a heterosexual woman. Oy.”

Today, there has been an update to the situation, where Andy Towle pulled back from his original stance and in many ways offered an apology to Carlivati! Towle posted, “There’s no question in my mind that Mr. Carlivati should be allowed the chance to develop his character more fully before judgment is passed and I regret if my commentary suggested that it should. My expression of “oy” over what I perceived to be a stereotype may have been hasty, but was also informed by having written this site for 9 years and seeing more than a few damaging caricatures in television and movies along the way.  I’ve also reported very positively on other soap characters written by Mr. Carlivati. I’m looking forward to seeing how his Felix Dubois character develops and thank him for his remarks and reaction.”

So what do you think of Towle’s remarks now? Classy?  The right thing to do, especially after it seems Felix and head writer, Carlivati got quite the verbal bashing?  Let us know your thoughts!

37 Comments

37 Comments
oldest
newest

Very classy… We all make mistakes… Great Job to everyone for the maturity level you all have shown on a blog….. Let’s hope that LeAnn and Brandy can find some of that same class over on radar-online. Very classless for both LeAnn, Eddie & Brandy. Those poor kids ….. Very Sad… those kids should be taken away from all three of their parents for what they are doing! Deal with it in private!

Yes, that was definitely the right thing to do, and I’m glad Mr. Towle is willing to not be so hasty. Given Mr. Carlivati’s track record as a headwriter and as one who has developed gay characters before, I thought the bashing was totally out of place. Especially since we had only seen Felix once!!

One of the major problems with the internet is that we can “react” so quickly, letting others know of our offense to some comment or situation, the instant we have it. I think the rule that says “If something offends you, sleep on it a day before you react, especially in writing,” is a good one to remember. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t enjoy free speech, it just is a suggestion to consider the damage ones words can do.

Very good point Cady, and by the way, when will you grace us on tv again? would love to see you on GH.

I would play a lesbian character without a second thought. I embrace all sexual identities and I think that when they are portrayed as compelling characters, especially in daytime TV, they help the broader culture have more compassion for all people and how we are all different in our specifics, and yet the same in our humanity.

will somebody contact Ron and Frank, i’m game. I’m loving the idea!

To Cady McClain: You were very impressive as rosanna cabot on ATWT! one of the best chars. I’d like to know what is your opinion on the utter lack of representation of Asian americans from hollywood? hollywood seems to portray majority of Asian american males as 1. dorky and asexualized char who’s an accented foreigner 2. asexualized martial arts expert. While the better Asian american roles get whitewashed and given to actors like tom cruise and relatively unknown actors like david henrie and jim sturgess. It’s worse for Asian american women bec majority of their roles are racist and sexist: 1. “dragon lady” 2. submissive 3. hypersexualized when paired w/ a white male. Hollywood’s lgbt chars are portrayed w/ humanity and yet hollywood seems to be openly racist towards Asian americans.

it seems like people erupt at the slightest “flaw” of an lgbt char and yet it’s completely acceptable how hollywood marginalizes and is openly racist towards Asian americans thru their portrayals. There was a film called “the goods” starring jeremy piven where an Asian american char was physically bashed by his white colleagues bec of pearl harbor bombing. The bashing of the Asian american char was done comedically w/c made it all the more disturbing and it furthered the stereotype that all Asian americans are monolithic bec the char was not Japanese. Would hollywood ever gay bash an lgbt char and portray that comedically? Highly doubtful. I think that this whole gh “controversy” is quite odd considering how there are a ton of unique lgbt representations on soaps and primetime soaps and primetime shows and films.

I’m glad you mentioned that daytime could use more Asian-American characters, because I handily agree. Our country is one full of diversity and uniqueness. Soaps seem to have been dominated by Caucasian characters up to this point, perhaps part of the idea that it was the “norm” in the main stream mindset, while anyone who was from a different culture was not “as American.” That fallacy and those days are behind us, I think, and it’s wonderful to see shows like “Grays Anatomy” reflect our diverse culture without focusing so much on our differences in appearance. Sandra Oh’s character, to me, seems to be portrayed as an everywoman, full of flaws, humor, and desires just like any woman.
I think any group has a right to complain when they feel they are being represented unfairly, or in a way they think is slandering to them. There is no statute of limitations on prejudice, racism or sexism, sadly. Those of us that have been at the effect of such hurt have to both speak out, like you are, and take action. But we also have to speak fairly and with dignity, or the cause of our complaint is lost in drama and distraction.
Finally, I agree that entertainment has to be careful in its depictions of those who have been already slandered, although not every filmmaker or storyteller can be as sensitive as Stanley Kubrick. Kubrick stated that the world of a film is a dream, that allows our subconscious to act out in ways we would not in real life. When done well, film and TV and theater can convey powerful human fears and needs and explore them, but the mediums cannot be beholden to
politics, or the story is not a journey but a message.
In my opinion the best way to de-politicize racial and sexual tension is for characters to not be stuck into a box, defined solely by their race and/or gender, but as the complex character the writer intends.

Beautifully spoken Ms. McClain!!!! Beautifully spoken, so eloquent and very true. We always jump to the immediately reaction, which at times is not always a bad thing, but can sometimes lead us to say things in a way that isn’t so respectful of all. I agree with your posting all the way!

To Cady McClain: Not only are you a talented actress but you’re very eloquent and one of the truly open minded among hollywood! My central gripe abt hollywood is people there tend to proclaim to be very “liberal” and “progressive” yet majority of films and tv tend to marginalize racial minorities and women while somehow preserving the white male establishment. NBC universal recently cooked up this new cooking show broadcast around Asian countries. The premise of the cooking show is that it features a rotating panel of male models around Asia who are deemed as the handsomest and strangely a large number of them are part white and have lighter skin and more Anglo physical features and names. Their part white racial backgrounds don’t make them “less Asian” but the larger issue is the brainwashing of what is considered as attractive and thus “idealized” w/c then becomes a modern way of colonization. But the problem really originates from hollywood. The film “cloud atlas” is abt rebirth. The artistic expression of the film makers was to use the same actors wearing prosthetics to portray the same souls. That has its merits. They cast white actors who used yellowface to portray the Asian chars. But they didn’t cast any white actors to portray the black slave char bec blackface would definitely be considered offensive. Yet the film is protected from criticism regarding yellowface and discrimination bec one of its directors is transgendered. That seems to be a running sentiment among hollywood types. showrunner patrick king who is openly gay was part of this panel discussing his 2 broke girls sitcom. Critics were asking him abt the stereotypical representations of the African american char Earl and Han the diner owner who is Korean. The strange response from king was that he can write these kind of portrayals bec of his orientation minority status being gay. It seems like glee isn’t critiqued for its racism and whitewashing and weightism and ageism and misogyny precisely bec its showrunner murphy is openly gay. the problematic portrayals of hollywood originate from the writers and showrunner w/c then affects the broader pop culture. It would be great if you could be a part of a writing team bec you obviously get it. You’d be an asset. Here’s hoping more actresses are like you! Good luck w/ your career as an actress!

To Cady McClain: congratulations on your engagement to john lindstrom. BTW regarding your opinion on the idea on whiteness as the “norm” among the mainstream mindset: hollywood really promotes this ideal even on the casting level. It’s assumed that a char is white whenever a char’s race is not specified on a casting call. the mainstream entertainment media from hollywood and manhattan are problematic bec they marginalize racial minorities. Descriptions like “girl next door” and even “classically beautiful” and especially “all american” are often racial code words for white actresses and chars. it seems like the mainstream entertainment media are less vocal when they critique hollywood’s racial issues and portrayals but they are more vocal when they demand more lgbt chars and storylines.

Jealousy is ugly on everyone. If you’re not familiar with someone’s work, you can’t judge it, which actually reminds me nobody is in a position to judge anyone, unless it’s a game show! #GoteamCarltini

lol beleive me, I know how rotten Jealousy can be. I’m a Christian and shouldn’t be that way, but I’d be lying if I said I was jealous of some friends of mine who are doing things in the church, like dance, public speaking and all I’m doing is cleaning, which is good, I love cleaning the church. My point is that they are doing something out in the open which is something I really wanna do as well. I’m not jealous of THEM. I’m jealous because they’re doing something and I’m not. and I know that’s a bad thing, but I just can’t seem to get over it. It’s rotten!

That’s different, you do not criticize, or insult them because they can do something you can’t. That should be motivation for you, as well!

Maybe this was all a publicity stunt? Because I sure do not know how you can comment on a character in just one episode of course I have not been watching been busy with work etc so this was all news to me are you sure that wasn’t the intention after all.

Ron and Frank are the best in the business and the whole issue is way behind the times. This is the 21st century and Ron should be allowed to handle it anyway that he wants. LEAVE HIM ALONE

I read the apology this morning-and it was classy of Andy to step back. Unfortunately, many regulars on Towelroad don’t seem to agree. Very sad, really

First of all as much as I am not a fan of Carlavati as a writer I have to say that the Kish story on OLTL was one of the most non stereotypical, realistic portrayals of gay men Ive seen on TV period.
Much like his detractor I also grow very weary of all the effeminate stereotypes that dominate TV today. I havent read the comments by the blogger. But I can appreciate the perceived sentiments against stereotypical depictions of gay men. I think they do the gay cause zero good. But in this particular instance I think he did jump the gun and should wait to see how the character pans out.
That being said I have zero interest in the character because he is not tied to any of the core families that I care about on GH. And the actor is a complete unknown to me so again no interest here.
I think its a big mistake to tackle important issues using newbies. Also has Carlavati forgotten that our beloved Bobbie Spencer as a gay adopted son still out there. Why not bring him back and hire a daytime vet to play him? And rehire Jaclyn Zeman also!! I appreciate the fact that the character is black and gay ( lord knows that’s rarely seen on TV). But again he’s a young newbie and Im not interested.

So, the only way a guy can be introduced is if he’s a core character? However, it’s fine to introduce straight characters who aren’t related to any core family? -__-

Jeff you have completely misunderstood my comment. The orientation of the character is of no consequence to me. My point is that homosexuality is a very emotional and controversial issue to explore even in today’s liberal social climate. So in my opinion viewers will have much more at stake with the character if he is tied to a core family.
Viewers watch soaps to follow the lives and loves of the characters that they know. We follow them through various generations and they become like our real family. So consequently I believe that as a writer its much easier to get an audience emotionally invested in a character from a family that we know and love, rather than trying to get us to care about someone we dont know. That’s all. I would say the same thing about a straight character facing alcoholism or drug abuse ect. These are issues that inspire emotion and empathy. And its easier for an audience to become engaged and care more about characters they know and love rather than new strangers. Its called emotional investment and its key to a successful story.

No Jeff, that is not the only way. But I happen to agree with the hope that this character (if he’s staying around) will have some sort of ties to a character other than Sabrina.

He realized he may have spoken too quickly and he apologized. Everyone makes mistakes. He saw he had and made it right, Good for both of them.

That’s terribly decent of Mr. Towel, but I still wonder about his comment about “damaging caricatures”; referring to the character of Felix. Why shouldn’t someone be able to show a lip-stick wielding gay character or a hostile lesbian on TV? They’re out there. I think what’s damaging is saying that all gay people are just like straight people. I sure hope not! People are people, goy or straight. I think it only gets demeaning when you fail to show the human side of a character and write them only as a “caricature”. I sure Ron will not write a one-demensional character. Just you wait and see.

None of us have a clue as the personality Felix will have..
We know nothing about him .. We saw him for about a minute.
I am excited about the new character and looking forward to ”getting to know” Felix..
I am now wondering what type of personality he will actually have..

Good for him, pulling back the way he did. There’s not enough class out there to begin with, and unfortunately the internet doesn’t foster good behavior.

Ron C. spoke out, and Andy Towle heard him. I respect him for that, a lot.

It will be a great day when a character’s sexuality isn’t seen as THE core characteristic. Not there yet, but we sure have come a long way. In my youth there were NO gay characters on soaps at all. Now we actually get to debate how they are portrayed. Never thought these days would come.

My hat is off to Ron C. and to Andy Towle. Adult behavior is so refreshing.

Days – has Will and Sonny…

B&B – has Danielle and Karen…

GH – has Felix…

C’mon! Y&R!!!! ???? join the rest of the world.

YES! https://groopii.blogspot.com/2012/07/marco-dapper-shirtless-in-young-and.html
Marco Dapper. “Abby was all a mistake, I really love Billy”

So I can not get Laura back on the show but I can get a new character and that is going to help keep the show on the air! First we have to deal with Mad Frankestein and making a woman police commisioner look stupid then I read that everyone is being held at the clinic in Switzerland. Really makes you want to watch it. Not!

Sorry you are not enjoying the fan faves from the 90’s like most of us. Maybe you prefer the mob storylines that most of the fans complained about for years. Faison, Anna, Robert, and Duke are huge characters from GH’s past and if you didn’t watch the show back then you missed out. You may have since you know who Laura is. I would love Laura to come back also and she may but if she does they will keep it a surprise which I think is great because too many things get spoiled and it ruins it.

There is no room for Laura on the show right now.

I did not say anthing about not enjoying the faves from the 90’s I just stated I would have preferred a storyline with Laura rather then this guy but their running the show not i so they can do want they want.

I enjoy Gh a lot… I think Anna’s character is great. The whole thing with Faison & the clinic is intersting to me.Anna & Robert will be paying that clinic a visit and get Robin back to home with Patrick & Emma….I enjoyed it years ago when Anna & Robert were in the WSB..It was the intrigue & suspense & we have that again now….Faison is a real
piece of work…

I work in a hospital, its a true melting pot and I have bumped into many a “Felix”, I actually think its refreshing they have someone they dont feel the need to butch-up.

I found the Felix character wonderful. I know so many like him, and not only are they fun, but have a giant heart. It will be so exciting to see his character developed further.
I loved what Frank V. and Ron C. did for “One Life” and they are providing that very same magic to “GH” by adding fresh approaches to much-loved characters from the past, as well as the current ones. They can do no wrong, in my opinion.

I think that blogger definitely over reacted.I can understand why gay men wouldn’t want to see only stereotypical,effeminate gay characters on TV. But most gay male characters on the soaps have been very masculine even when portrayed by gay actors.We’re all adults here and we all know that some gay men are more “flamboyant” and have careers that are traditionally held by women,so why shouldn’t they be represented on a soap? So far,I’m loving Felix. I don’t see anything offensive about him. Many,many straight women have a BFF like Felix.

I am a Born again Christian, and I won’t get into what’s right or wrong, but I really don’t care if Felix is gay or not. However, if you put him in a relationship, then I’m done watching! as I’m sure others will to. I love GH (probably more than I should). I don’t care if he’s gay, but I WILL stop watching if you put him in a gay relationship. I loved OLTL, but when the gay relationshipsstarted, I stopped watching

I’m just curious. Is he gay in real life?

General Hospital

Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

Published

on

By

Maura West and Kelly Sullivan

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!

 

Continue Reading

General Hospital

Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

Published

on

By

Steve Burton

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.

Steve Burton

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.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?

Published

on

By

Jason and Britt

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.

Britt

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.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Heather Tom

The Bold and the Beautiful

Airdate: 7-24-2026

Popular

37
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x