Steve Burton Gives Update After 'General Hospital' Firing, Explains Why He Doesn't Do Interviews

Steve Burton gave his fans an update after he was fired from "General Hospital" over the vaccine mandate.

In his weekly podcast with pal Bradford Anderson, "That’s Awesome with Steve & Bradford," Burton explained why he turned down interviews after his exit from ABC's daytime television soap opera. He said he didn't want to cause more drama because he knew that many of his fans were upset over his departure from the show.

"I’ve gotten a lot of requests for interviews, but I don’t want to do them," he told Anderson. "I have no interest, dude. Because I don’t want division. That’s the bottom line."

He continued, "I know people are frustrated, I know people are angry, I know all these things. Just so you know, I’m OK."

Burton played Jason Morgan in the soap opera since 1991. He left the show in 2012 and reprised the role five years later. He won a Daytime Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for his role in 1998.

"General Hospital" was forced to fire Burton because he refused to get vaccinated. The vaccine mandate at the show took effect on Nov. 1. According to Variety, the production has no plans to recast Burton's character. This week, the other characters learned about Jason's death.

"There was nothing left at the last place I saw Jason," his character's brother Drew (Cameron Mathison) said. "There was just a pile of rocks and beams. They had crews on site within an hour, and they had their scanning equipment there. They couldn’t pick up a heartbeat."

The outlet noted that "General Hospital" has brought back to life dead characters, so they could bring Jason back if they would want to. Variety asked the production if Jason could potentially return either after Burton gets vaccinated or through another actor. "General Hospital" did not immediately respond to the inquiry.

Meanwhile, Twitter users have mixed opinions. Most agreed that they didn't want to recast Burton's character. However, some hoped that he would return if the series were to end.

"Please let this heinous man stay dead at least until the show is canceled. He can come back for the series finale," one commented on the report.

"Please NEVER recast Jason Morgan. Period. It will do such a disservice to the fans. Let him Rest In Peace unless Steve Burton decides to follow the rules of his employer and then comes back. We will welcome him back with open arms but please, no replacements! #GH," another added.

ABC and Burton were mum about his status on the show until he uploaded a video on Instagram admitting that he was let go by the production due to the vaccine mandate. Burton said he applied for medical and religious exemptions, but his applications were denied.

"Which, you know, hurts. But this is also about personal freedom to me," he said in the video.

Burton expressed his interest in returning to the series, once the vaccine mandate is lifted.

"Maybe one day if these mandates are lifted, I can return and finish my career as Jason Morgan. That would be an honor," he added.