Twitter Reacts To Ingo Rademacher's 'General Hospital' Exit After Controversial Transphobic Post

Ingo Rademacher's controversial social media posts have drawn attention once more following news that he is leaving "General Hospital."

The 50-year-old actor, who played Jasper "Jax" Jacks on and off for 25 years, separated from the long-running ABC soap opera because he declined to comply with the production's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, Variety reported. His exit also came amid backlash to a transphobic meme and anti-vax sentiment he posted on social media Sunday.

Some fans were sad after learning about Rademacher's departure, with one longtime viewer calling him "a great asset" to "General Hospital" on Twitter.

"Ingo Rademacher, [I'm] going to miss you on 'GH.' Many are," another Twitter user added. "The show will feel your departure."

"Why is #IngoRademacher attacked for his opinions? He should have the same rights as others, and I admire him for staying true to his beliefs," a third supporter wrote.

However, many other viewers continued to slam Rademacher over his controversial posts.

"['General Hospital'] should have fired Ingo Rademacher a long time ago. But they let him spew his hate and ignored it. His character is not valuable to the show. Never has been. And if he were to leave today, not a single storyline would be affected. Not a one," one person tweeted.

"Damage control. He shows his true colors all the time! Glad he’s gone. This legendary show does not need people like him," another Twitter user added.

"Devastating to see poor Ingo turn into a right-wing nut. No less dangerous than left-wing nuts. I can't understand becoming a zealot. The beautiful man I first met in 1995 is lost," a third user wrote.

On Sunday, Rademacher reposted on his Instagram a tweet calling Rachel Levine, the first openly transgender four-star officer across the nation's eight uniformed services, a "dude" and mocking the notion that Levine could be considered an empowered woman.

The Australian actor doubled down on sharing the meme in an Instagram post Monday, saying in a video, "I don’t think either it's OK to call a transgender an empowered woman, because where does that leave women?"

Rademacher also shared an anti-vaxxer message on Instagram Sunday, stating that he would "stand with you to fight for medical freedom."

Rademacher has been outspoken against vaccination throughout much of the pandemic. Before this incident, the actor also came under fire for writing or sharing social media posts that questioned COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, mandates and passports.

Back in August, online users launched the #FireIngo hashtag campaign due to his posts, TV Line reported. One person started a petition on Change.org calling on ABC to fire him.

"Enough is enough. Ingo Rademacher has used his platform to spread misinformation on a public health crisis and disguise it as a difference of opinion," the petition started by Tracey Corder read.

Corder also wrote that it was the network's responsibility to "counter his social media posts with a public statement that includes correcting misinformation and an acknowledgment of how they are keeping their actors safe."

At the time, Rademacher responded with an Instagram video in which he called #FireIngo supporters "bigots."

The actor also claimed that "mandating any vaccine is wrong but especially one that doesn’t help stop the spread, that’s nothing short of crazy talk. If you want to take the vaccine, take it. Just know you’re doing it for yourself, not to save anyone else. You're not a hero."