Steve Burton opens up about his return to General Hospital… three years after he was FIRED for refusing COVID-19 vaccine
Five months after his surprise return to General Hospital, Steve Burton is opening up about his return to the soap opera.
Burton, 53, is best known for his portrayal of Jason Morgan on General Hospital, first appearing between 1991 and 2012.
He returned in 2017 after a four-year stint on The Young and the Restless, although he was fired in 2021 for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The actor returned to Days of Our Lives in 2022 and 2023, though he announced in early January that he was leaving that show, and a day later revealed that he would be coming back to GH.
The actor attended the Daytime Emmy Awards this weekend, where he opened up AND about his return to GH.
Five months after his surprise return to General Hospital, Steve Burton is opening up about his return to the soap opera
Burton, 53, is best known for his portrayal of Jason Morgan on General Hospital, first appearing between 1991 and 2012
‘It was great to come back to the show. It always felt like home. I love the cast, I love the crew, and life is great right now. It really, really is,” he said.
His departure from GH in November 2021 was quite sudden and surprising, with Burton confirming in an Instagram video that he had been fired, adding that he had requested “medical and religious exemptions” for the COVID vaccine but was denied.
‘But for me this is also about personal freedom. I don’t think anyone should lose their livelihood over this,” Burton said in the video.
Thinking about it now, Burton said it was “an interesting time overall,” adding that he felt refusing the COVID-19 vaccine was “something I felt like I had to do doing.’
“When another door closes, another one opens and you know, God has a plan,” Burton said of his resignation and now return.
“I left and here I am back, it’s come full circle, and it feels great and it’s just a great time,” he admitted, adding that he would happily stay on the show, “if it goes another 60 takes years.’
He also paid tribute to beloved late soap actor Johnny Wactor, who was murdered in downtown Los Angeles after confronting a catalytic converter thief.
Burton said Wactor was “an incredible man,” adding, “I said it on our podcast, and overall he was just a guy you could always count on.”
‘It was great to come back to the show. It always felt like home. I love the cast, I love the crew, and life is great right now. It really, really is,” he said
‘But for me this is also about personal freedom. I don’t think anyone should lose their livelihood over this,” Burton said in the video
“He was selfless and giving, as we see. My prayers for his family,” Burton added of the late soap opera star, who was just 37 years old when he was killed
Burton also made headlines in late December 2023 when his divorce from Sheree Gustin was finalized after it was revealed she was having a baby with another man.
“He was selfless and giving, as we see. My prayers for his family,” Burton added of the late soap opera star, who was just 37 years old when he was killed.
Burton also made headlines in late December 2023 when his divorce from Sheree Gustin was finalized after it was revealed she was having a baby with another man.
Sheree has also asked the judge overseeing the divorce to permanently end spousal support for both her and Burton.
The actor previously filed for joint custody of the three children they share, and custody and visitation with Makena, Jack and Brooklyn will not change now that the divorce has been finalized.
In his original divorce filing, Burton claimed he and his ex split in March 2022, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their separation.