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Popcorn-worthy drama in the American soap opera world is no surprise onscreen, but it always seems to extend offscreen. Popular shows like The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Days of Our Lives have provided plenty of entertainment over the decades, but scandals, chaos, and even legal proceedings seem to follow along.
One dramatic incident occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Ingo Rademacher, who played Jasper Jacks on the ABC soap opera General Hospital, refused to get vaccinated and was fired from the show. He sued the network and took them to court. Here’s what happened.
General Hospital: Ingo Rademacher Refused To Follow COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
In 2021, it was mandated that all workers and cast members be vaccinated for safety and well-being. Ingo, who is an avid anti-vaxxer, refused to comply with it. In August, he posted on Instagram, “Make no mistake, this is the fight of our lives. The fight to have the freedom to choose. It has zero to do with your political beliefs or whether you’ve been vaccinated or not. Stand strong, America!”
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Then in November, he shared another post with the caption, “I will stand with you to fight for medical freedom. #medicalfreedom #nomandates #woke #awakening #coersionisnotconsent.” The actor continued to refuse to get vaccinated and caused another controversy by making transphobic remarks.
General Hospital: Ingo Rademacher Sued ABC Alleging Religious Discrimination
Ingo was fired from General Hospital, his last airdate being November 22, 2021. In December, he sued ABC, claiming the network’s vaccine mandate was “unconstitutional” and was a form of “religious discrimination.” In his lawsuit, he revealed the email he sent to the HR department for exemption.
The actor stated this was not a political issue and claimed he was “entitled to a religious exemption” and that his body’s “natural integrity” could not be “violated by the administration of artificially created copies of genetic material, foreign to nature and experimental,” as obtained by Variety.
In June 2023, Ingo lost the case, and the court ruled in ABC’s favor. Steve Burton, another actor fired from General Hospital for not complying with the mandate, was rehired by the show in January 2024. This did not go down well with Ingo, and he filed an appeal to revive the lawsuit and reopen the case.
The 55-year-old claimed he had new evidence supporting his claims. He alleged he was fired due to religious discrimination, and it was a wrongful termination on the network’s part. But a judge at the Los Angeles County Superior Court denied the motion and rejected his appeal to revive the suit.
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