Despite a lavish steampunk-themed wedding where the two exchanged vows in front of a multitude of family, friends and colleagues, soap stars Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos, “General Hospital”) and Courtney Hope (Sally Spectra, “The Young and the Restless”) apparently were never officially married, Duell revealed during an interview with daytime superstar Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos, “General Hospital”) on the most recent episode of his YouTube series, “MB: State of Mind.” Last month, it was reported that the pair had split up. No reason was given for the split.
Released on Sunday, January 30, the 30-minute plus conversation between Benard and Duell touched upon various topics, including the revelation that Duell’s younger sister, Mackenzie, was put up for adoption right after she was born by their mother due to personal circumstances at the time and how the family reconnected with her years later, how Benard wasn’t very nice to Duell for an extended period of time after the younger actor’s 2010 hiring, the result of Benard’s close bond with the Michael character’s previous portrayer, dealing with the pressures of working on a daytime drama series, and most importantly addressing the elephant in the room – Duell’s October 23, 2021 wedding to Courtney Hope.
Courtesy of @thecourtneyhope/Instagram
With about five minutes left in their conversation, Benard brought up Duell’s split from Hope, saying to Duell, “I love Courtney, you love Courtney, and this has something to do another variable [or] whatever that you guys aren’t together. But, like I keep telling you, it’s a beautiful thing that you can still talk to her. She even sometimes messages me… we still have a relationship cause she’s great and you’re great. So, on that note…”
With the floor now open to him, Duell stated, “Out of respect to her, I’m not going to delve too much into all of this stuff. All I’d say is she’s an amazing person, she’s an amazing woman, [and] she’s an amazing dog mom.
“It’s a complicated situation, and it’s not what anybody thinks. I’m not going to get into detail, but it’s not what people think. It’s just… there [wasn’t] anything terrible that happened or someone did to anybody else. We’re still on good terms and she’s an amazing person in so many ways.”
Duell further stated, “All I have to say is positive things and it’s just…mutual, we didn’t actually sign anything. We weren’t really, like, you know, married or anything really. It was amicable, kinda just that. That’s all I can really say. We always want the best for each other, and that’s all I really can say.”
Without naming names, Benard ended his chat with Duell telling him he’s personally seen relationships that far outlasted their expiration date. “The fact that you both parted ways now and not waited is so much better, and I give both of you a ton of credit for that,” Benard told his on-screen son.
Watch Benard’s sitdown with Duell in its entirety below.