Hours after posting a heartfelt message on Instagram wherein she honored the first anniversary of the passing of her friend and former “General Hospital” co-star, the late Billy Miller (ex-Drew Cain), actress Kelly Monaco (Sam McCall) later updated the post with tags for the official “General Hospital” handle, along with the official handles for Disney, Hulu and ABC Current Series executive Nathan Varni (“General Hospital,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Conners”), along with the hashtags “Craig Erwich” and “Rob Mills.”
“Duces [sic] ‘I’ve got your back and you always had mine,’” read the caption on Monaco’s post where she quoted a statement made by Miller in the past. “I will tell our story soon enough…. I love and miss you… and beyond,” Monaco concluded in her post. For reference, “Deuces” was a nickname the pair used stemming as far back as when Monaco shared a photo of herself on Miller’s back in a July 2017 post on X (formerly Twitter). An X user recently shared a signed copy of the photo written by Miller to Monaco that said, “To the best partner I have ever had – who has my back and I have hers because it takes TWO! ‘Deuces’ — Love, Billy.”
While it’s unclear why Monaco decided to update her Instagram post, it should be noted that Craig Erwich is President, Disney Television Group, overseeing content strategy across ABC Entertainment, Disney Branded Television, Freeform and Hulu Originals programming. Meanwhile, Rob Mills is Executive Vice President, Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment at Walt Disney Television and Walt Disney Television Alternative, who also oversees daytime programming for ABC.
In addition to updating her Instagram post, Monaco also addressed an unsubstantiated rumor going around that she was allegedly the only cast member who opted against taking a cut, either in salary or episode guarantee, which was something allegedly requested by the show’s producers of its talent roster following a Disney mandate to cut costs across its media networks. In addition to “General Hospital,” the cuts at ABC also allegedly impacted such shows as “Good Morning America.”
In July, the New York Post reported that Disney wanted the cuts implemented before the end of the company’s fiscal year on September 30.
In late August, Soap Opera Network broke the news that Monaco had been let go from “General Hospital,” with her character slated to be killed off this fall. According to sources, Monaco was said to be “blindsided” by the show’s decision, and while ABC has not formally commented on Monaco’s departure, the network did inform the media that her exit is “storyline dictated.”
“I took the cut. That’s all I’ll say in this moment,” responded Monaco to the poster on Instagram. Her reply has since accumulated more than 300 likes and numerous responses in support of the actress.
The initial Instagram post by Monaco has thus far amassed more than 35,000 likes and 1,700 replies at press time, with many in the industry either liking or responding to the post, including former ”General Hospital” colleagues Michael Easton (ex-Hamilton Finn) and Kimberly McCullough (ex-Robin Scorpio).
“You have a lot of people who love you Kelly and we all have your back,” commented Easton, who not only co-starred alongside Monaco on “General Hospital,” but the two played on-screen lovers during their time on “Port Charles,” where he played Caleb Morley and she played Livvie Locke. Easton’s reply has since amassed more than 500 likes from fans.
“My heart goes out to you Kelly,” stated McCullough, who included a “heart” emoji in her reply, which has received nearly 1,000 likes since it was posted.
As of Sunday, September 15, more than 14,000 signatures have been compiled from a fan campaign hoping the show would reverse course and rehire Monaco. In fact, last week, a mobile billboard was driven around the show’s Prospect Studios in Hollywood, as well as Disney’s headquarters in Burbank.
That said, I’m hearing plans still remain in place for the show to kill off Monaco’s character.
A final air date for Monaco on “General Hospital” has not been announced.