‘General Hospital’ actor Steve Burton says he was fired for refusing COVID-19 vaccination

Steve Burton, an actor from General Hospital, said in an Instagram post on Tuesday that he was fired from the show for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Just two weeks ago, his fellow cast member Ingo Rademacher was reportedly fired for the same thing.

Burton wrote in his Instagram post, “This is about personal freedom to me. I don’t think anyone should lose their livelihood over this.” He also said he had applied for both medical and religious exemptions, but they were denied.

Burton tested positive for COVID-19 in August, and he said he believed he caught the virus on the set of the show. After his diagnosis, he was forced to cancel dates for his live comedy show called Stone Cold and The Jackal.

The show started to require actors and crew members who interact with them, which is known as production Zone A, to be fully vaccinated by November 1. ABC confirmed Burton’s release from the series over the studio’s vaccine mandate; the studio added that his last day of filming was October 27.

ABC also confirmed in early November that Ingo Rademacher would no longer appear in the daytime drama. Sources said that the studio made the decision to fire Rademacher after he refused to comply with the vaccination requirement.

Rademacher has long stood against COVID-19 vaccine mandates on social media, saying that he would “stand with” those who are protesting vaccine mandates “to fight for medical freedom.” Another actor, Emilio Estavez, who starred in Disney’s The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, will also not be able to return to the show due to the vaccine mandate since the show is also under ABC.