General Hospital star Ryan Paevey finally reveals WHY he made shock decision to step back from acting

Ryan Paevey, who rose to fame as the dashing Nathan West on General Hospital, has finally revealed why he retired from acting.

The 39-year-old announced in April that he was stepping back from Hollywood but was vague about his reasons, leading to a blizzard of speculation.

He deleted his accounts on Facebook and

On Friday, he finally explained that showbiz has taken a toll on his “mental health,” sending him to a “dark place” where he felt he needed to escape.

He added that he had to move to Los Angeles to care for his mother during her battle with lung cancer, in a statement to Heavy.

Ryan, who has been known for Hallmark movies in recent years, revealed in April that he “may not be filming again until 2024 unless the project is with friends.”

Writing on I’m tired.’

The suspicion gained momentum, to the point that this week Ryan found himself issuing a statement clarifying his position.

He expressed frustration at the “speculation of third parties who have taken my words and expanded upon them to suit their narrative, or have outright misrepresented my words or misinterpreted their meaning.”

He pointed out that “social media makes it very easy to twist someone’s words” and said he occasionally receives messages from his team “in panic” over a rumor.

Ryan revealed that he “felt” he needed to step back from acting “for a while,” and over “the past few weeks” he decided the move was “absolutely necessary.”

‘The industry hasn’t felt like the place for me for a while, and my mental health has suffered as a result. It’s taken me to a bit of a dark place, it’s turned me into a version of myself that I don’t really like. “I have expressed some of my anger and frustration publicly, and for that I apologize,” he said.

“I’ve had many years of smooth sailing and I’m very happy to say that, but the waters have been much rougher this past year,” he added.

“I’ve seen bank accounts hacked, money embezzled, investments stolen… things that, while difficult, can be recovered.”

However, when he learned his mother had cancer, he “left Los Angeles to be closer to her” and to “dedicate more of my time, energy and resources closer to home.”

Ryan previously revealed that the slings and arrows of social media ultimately led him to quit his role on General Hospital in 2018; depicted in the soap opera with Kirsten Storms

In recent years, Ryan has been known for a string of Hallmark films, including the 2019 production From Friend To Fiancé, in which he is depicted with Jocelyn Hudon.

Among other things, he expressed his warm gratitude “to General Hospital for giving a green actor an opportunity and tolerating his learning curve, to Hallmark for changing my life and taking me to places that have become my favorite on earth.” , but noted that he was “just bringing the focus closer; to family.’

Professionally, he shifts his focus to Fortunate Wanderer, a website where he sells handmade jewelry that he also advertises on his Instagram.

Ryan previously revealed that the slings and arrows of social media ultimately led him to quit his role on General Hospital in 2018.

“That’s why I quit years ago,” he wrote on X in April. “Soap Twitter was one of the most caustic online environments I’ve ever experienced.”

He denounced the “Dreams of armchair judges without skill or experience who judge people who work hard to entertain. Don’t miss it at all.’