General Hospital Shocker: Steve Burton’s Return Sparks New Legal Drama with Former Co-Star

Steve Burton’s triumphant return to Port Charles has unexpectedly reignited a fierce legal battle, as former General Hospital star Ingo Rademacher launches a bold new challenge against ABC. The drama unfolding behind the scenes might just rival anything happening on screen!

The Plot Thickens with Burton’s Return

While fans are celebrating Jason Morgan’s return to their screens, Rademacher is using Burton’s March 2024 rehiring as ammunition in his ongoing legal fight. The former Jasper “Jax” Jacks portrayer has filed a new motion claiming political discrimination was the real reason behind his 2021 firing – not the vaccine mandate that officially ended both actors’ runs on the show.

A Tale of Two Exits

Here’s where things get interesting. Both Burton and Rademacher were let go in 2021 when they declined to comply with Disney/ABC’s COVID-19 vaccine requirements. But while Burton quietly moved on to a stint as Harris Michaels on Days of Our Lives, Rademacher took a different path, choosing to sue ABC.

The New Legal Challenge

In a dramatic turn worthy of sweeps week, Rademacher’s legal team is pointing to Burton’s rehiring as proof of alleged discrimination. Their argument? If ABC was willing to bring back Burton after the mandate lifted, why not Rademacher? The answer, according to the lawsuit, lies in the actor’s political views rather than the vaccine policy.

Behind-the-Scenes Drama Revealed

The plot thickens with some explosive revelations. Rademacher’s legal team has unveiled text messages from producers who allegedly called him an “ignorant racist” and a “nut.” One producer even publicly responded to one of his social media posts with “Ready for a Recast!” The messages reportedly coincide with what Rademacher’s lawyer describes as a “key period in this case.”

ABC Stands Firm

ABC isn’t backing down from this fight. The network’s response to Burton’s rehiring being used as evidence? They’ve declared it “completely irrelevant and raises no triable issue of fact in this case.” The network also suggests there’s a simple reason why Burton found his way back to Port Charles – during his time away, he never spoke negatively about ABC or General Hospital.

Jax’s Legacy Hangs in the Balance

For 25 years, from 1996 to 2021, Rademacher brought Jax to life in Port Charles. His character’s epic love triangle with Brenda Barrett and Sonny Corinthos kept viewers glued to their screens for years. More recently, his role as Josslyn’s father and his complicated relationship with Nina Reeves were key storylines, particularly during the Nixon Falls saga that saw him help bring Sonny back to Port Charles.

While the courts recently denied Rademacher’s request to reopen the case, his appeal continues. Meanwhile, Burton has seamlessly slipped back into his role as Jason Morgan, proving that while some Port Charles departures might be temporary, others could be more permanent – especially when legal drama is involved!

Stay tuned to see how this behind-the-scenes saga continues to unfold. After all, in the world of soaps, you never know what twist might come next!