Just four days shy of celebrating the 21st anniversary of her on-air debut on “General Hospital,” actress Kelly Monaco taped her final scenes as Sam McCall on Friday, September 27.
“I want to take this moment to reach out to Kelly’s incredible fans and express my deepest gratitude for the unwavering love, loyalty, and support you’ve shown her throughout her time on ‘General Hospital,'” said Monaco’s real-life mother, Carmina, in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), announcing the news.
“On this final day, just four days shy of the anniversary of her first episode on October 1, 2003, Kelly will close the door of her dressing room for the last time,” Carmina continued. “This moment is a difficult one, but knowing that she has had such an incredible, devoted fan base has given her strength. You’ve stood by her through every twist and turn, celebrating her achievements and providing comfort in the hard times. Your love and dedication have meant more than words can express, not only to Kelly but to all of us who care so deeply for her. Thank you for being there, for believing in her, and for reminding her of the impact she’s made. We will always be grateful for you standing with her through it all.”
Soap Opera Network first broke the news last month that Monaco had been let go from the ABC daytime drama series. Sources noted that the actress was “blindsided” when she learned the news, particularly as the show plans to kill off her character this fall. In the weeks since, fans have rallied behind Monaco with phone calls, letters, social media posts, mobile billboards, and even a major billboard in New York’s Times Square.
An online petition was also created and has since amassed 16,000 signatures. The “I Stand With Kelly” initiative has trended daily on X (formerly Twitter), and news of Monaco’s ouster amassed millions of page views across a multitude of publications, including “Entertainment Tonight,” E! News, Deadline, PEOPLE, NY Post, Daily Mail, Variety, TV Line, Entertainment Weekly, Us Weekly, Los Angeles Times, Parade, The Independent, TV Insider and Toronto Sun, along with a host of other national and international news stations and print outlets.
ABC has not issued a formal statement on Monaco’s exit, despite other outlets reporting “storyline dictated” as the reason. Separately, while Monaco’s airdate has not been announced, based on the show’s current tape-to-air schedule, fans can expect to see the last of the actress as Sam McCall sometime in October when the character goes out with a bang.
I want to take this moment to reach out to Kelly’s incredible fans and express my deepest gratitude for the unwavering love, loyalty, and support you’ve shown her throughout her time on General Hospital. On this final day, just four days shy of the anniversary of her first…
— Carmina Monaco (@kellysmom1) September 27, 2024