Ingo Rademacher is demanding a new trial against ABC for his firing from General Hospital, following the return of Steve Burton to the show. On December 26, 2024, Rademacher, 53, filed court documents claiming new evidence that challenged the network’s reason for his dismissal.
The new evidence, according to Rademacher, is Steve Burton’s return to General Hospital. He argues that Burton’s return undermines ABC’s statement that Rademacher’s political views had no impact on his firing in 2021. The actor believes that the network’s actions were influenced by his political beliefs rather than health-related reasons.
In November 2021, Rademacher and Burton were both let go from General Hospital for refusing to comply with the show’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Rademacher was outspoken about his stance on vaccination and championed “medical freedom” through his social media accounts, particularly on Instagram.
Rademacher, who portrayed Jax on the show for 25 years, immediately began legal proceedings against ABC after his firing. His lawsuit accused the network of religious discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, and a violation of his privacy rights.
ABC denied the accusations, maintaining that the decision to dismiss Rademacher was based on health concerns, not his religious beliefs. In June 2023, a judge ruled in favor of ABC, dismissing Rademacher’s claims.
While Rademacher pursued legal action, Steve Burton did not follow suit. Instead, Burton moved on to Days of Our Lives, where he reprised his role as Harris Michaels. Burton’s time on the show started in April 2022, but after a year, he announced his departure from Days of Our Lives in early 2024.
Burton expressed his gratitude to the Days of Our Lives cast and crew in a heartfelt video message. He acknowledged the fans and reflected on his year-long journey on the show. His farewell marked the end of his tenure, and shortly after, it was revealed that Burton would return to General Hospital as Jason Morgan, three years after his exit.
Burton’s return to the ABC soap opera in March 2024 has sparked further controversy. Rademacher’s legal team now argues that the network’s decision to rehire Burton contradicts ABC’s earlier claim that political beliefs did not play a role in his firing. Rademacher hopes this new evidence will sway the court’s decision in his favor.
