Kirsten Storms set the record straight about her break from General Hospital amid rumors of behind-the-scenes drama at the ABC soap.
“I’m still under contract and have every intention of returning when the break (I was fortunate enough to be granted) is over,” Storms, 41, confirmed to fans via Instagram on Wednesday, July 9.
Storms recently announced that that she’d filmed her final scenes as GH favorite Maxie Jones — at least for now — and is planning to relocate from Los Angeles to Nashville with 11-year-old daughter Harper. (The actress shares Harper with ex-husband and fellow soap star Brandon Barash.)
However, the actress decided to clear up some speculation around her departure from General Hospital after a fan predicted Maxie would be recast by GH producer Frank Valentini, like the executive did when Chad Duell recently quit. (The Young and the Restless veteran Rory Gibson took over playing Duell’s former character Michael Corinthos in May.)
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The viewer warned Storms directly about her temporary break from GH, claiming that “Frank [Valentini] also told Chad that he could return when he was ready and we see what happened just a few weeks later.”
“I apologize in advance, but these types of comments really bother me,” Storms replied. “People assume they know things that have happened on set/with GH actors because they read some anonymous blog post. Then, somehow, Frank gets blamed for a fictional situation that a random person (not associated with GH) most likely made up as they were typing it.”
She went on, “Frank does not come on social media and start throwing people under the bus to clear up these undeserved – and often incredibly mean – lies. He could absolutely throw shade at actors that made major mistakes or caused problems.”
Storms clarified that it was Duell’s decision to “completely leave” General Hospital in January after a 15-year stint.
“No one at ABC gave away ‘his’ job – he told them he didn’t want it anymore when he said he wasn’t going to resign his contract,” she insisted.
(In December 2024, Duell explained that he turned down a General Hospital contract renewal because he felt he’d “stifled [himself] in certain aspects” and felt ready to “to take drastic steps” in his career.)
Storms later responded to another Instagram follower who brought up actress Nicole Paggi temporarily taking over as Maxie for a few scenes on a day where she was unable to film General Hospital.
“No replacement while I’m gone, but I won’t say more than that for storyline purposes,” she responded. “They had to bring in a replacement in on a day I was sick. My last few episodes haven’t aired yet.”
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The Daytime Emmy nominee has played Maxie Jones on and off for the past 20 years, having originally starred on the soap from 2005 to 2011. She returned in 2012 after an extended medical leave and has remained in the role ever since. (Storms has taken prior extended breaks, during which time Maxie was temporarily played by Jen Lilley, Molly Burnett and, most recently, Paggi.)
Storms previously has suggested she may return to the General Hospital set by “December [or even] November, maybe.”
“I’m very excited to be making Tennessee my home,” she added. “I can’t wait to return to GH, once Harper and I are settled in our new town. I plan on documenting as much of this new journey on my social media as I can. It’s always been a dream of mine to move to a place like this, it’s hard to believe it’s really happening.”
General Hospital airs on ABC Mondays through Fridays at 2p.m. ET.
