Longtime General Hospital cast member Steve Burton is leaving the ABC show due to his refusal to comply with the production’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate.

Burton confirmed his long-rumored departure on Instagram today. “I know there’s been a lot of rumors and speculations about me and General Hospital and I wanted you to hear it from me personally,” he says in the video. “Unfortunately, General Hospital has let me go because of the vaccine mandate.”

Watch the video below.

Burton goes on to say he sought medical and religious exemptions to the mandate but was denied by the production on both counts. “Which, you know, hurts,” he says, “but this is also about personal freedom to me.” After expressing thanks to fans – noting that he practically grew up on the show – he says, “Maybe one day if these mandates are lifted, I can return and finish my career as Jason Morgan.