Jacqueline Grace Lopez Says Goodbye to General Hospital

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Viewers were surprised when Blaze suddenly decided to go on tour with Miguel Morez on General Hospital, and so was portrayer Jacqueline Grace Lopez, who admitted that this exit took her by surprise. She debuted as the singer in November 2022, and after her storyline wrapped up in April 2023, she returned in September for a much bigger storyline that came to an abrupt end in the Aug. 14, 2024 episode.

“Not gonna lie, this goodbye hurts,” Lopez said in a statement posted to social media. “I think because I didn’t see it coming. That, and when you spend almost two years with this group, you start to feel like part of the fabric. I’m so grateful to Frank [Valentini, GH’s executive producer] for asking me back. I am grateful to everyone I got to tell stories with, both in front and behind the camera. This cast and crew work so hard and have taught me so much. Jobs come and go, but it’s the people you miss. I’m definitely going to miss this bunch.” (She shared a ton of photos and video of the cast and crew she loves so much in her Instagram post.)

The actress is also grateful for the representation that she was able to bring to daytime. “I’ve mentioned that as a brown girl, it’s so hard to see ourselves in media, period,” Lopez explained. “To have writers introduce Latiné story elements because of my character? Even adding a Latiné last name to my character’s name? Getting onscreen family and backstory as a non-contract actor? Being a part of the opening titles? Turning a 10-episode part into almost two years? Babyyy, she done did that! Sometimes we have to be the change we don’t see.”

Lopez also expressed her gratitude to the loyal fans. “My heart is so full,” she declared. “Especially fans that embraced Blaze’s journey as a gay woman and formed community around each other as a result. Y’all got me through some moments. I poured myself into this story because I knew it was going to matter. I just didn’t know how much. You have humbled me, reminding me the need for feeling seen onscreen is absolutely universal to all marginalized communities. I learned that through Allie. Through You. Thank you for sharing your stories, your words of encouragement, and for the generous gifts! Know I carry all of that with me always. I hope I did right by you. That’s all I wanted to do.

“Ultimately, my joy in this work is to help people feel seen,” Lopez concluded. “And for that reason alone, this chapter of Blaze was an absolute gift. It feels so sudden, but I have to trust in timing. Heading out of Port Charles with nothing but gratitude. Thank you, GH.”

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