Ingo Rademacher is out at General Hospital. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor was fired for opposing the show’s recently imposed COVID-19 vaccination mandate. The actor has played Jasper “Jax” Jacks on the ABC soap opera on and off since 1996. His last episode is currently scheduled for Nov. 22.
Rademacher has long been outspoken about his stance against vaccines, and previously referred to General Hospital fans calling for him to be fired from the series as a result “morons, dictators, and horrible, horrible people” (per Deadline).
Yesterday, Rademacher took to Instagram to share a photo of himself, which he captioned, “I will stand with you for medical freedom. #nomandates #woke #coersionisnotconsent”
News of the actor’s exit also comes days after he clashed with some of his castmates over his comments about transgender people.
Over the weekend, Rademacher faced pushback from castmates Nancy Lee Grahn and Cassandra James for resharing a tweet that misgendered Rachel Levine (who is transgender and an admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps) as a “dude.”
“Shame on you. You have some serious unlearning and education to do,” James, who is transgender, tweeted on Sunday. “I feel deeply disappointed that such a public display of ignorance could come from our GH family.”
Grahn responded to James’ tweet with support, confirming that Rademacher is “mercifully no longer a part of the #gh cast.”
Rademacher stood by the reshared tweet in a Monday Instagram video, but said that he “wouldn’t have written it that way.” He also addressed James directly, adding, “Cassandra, I apologize to you as well, sincerely. I think you’re an absolute talent and you’re very beautiful as well. I don’t think a transphobic man would say that.”
The actor also promised he would address his relationship with the show soon, adding, “I will get in touch with everybody and fill you guys in on what’s happening when I can.”
