Petition to have Kelly Monaco remain on General Hospital surpasses 10k signatures as fans rage

The decision made by General Hospital bosses to have Kelly Monaco be dumped from the show's cast has not gone down well with fans.

Viewers of the show have been taking to X, formerly known as Twitter , in their droves to slam the cast shakeup.

Multiple viewers have been posting "I Stand With Kelly Monaco" on their personal X pages in solidarity with the star, who was reportedly left "blindsided" over the show's decision to axe her after 21 years.

• General Hospital star Adam J Harrington breaks silence on axe as fans say it's a 'huge loss'

• General Hospital fans post 'I stand with Kelly Monaco' in show of solidarity after actress was 'blindsided' by show axe

And now, a petition has been launched begging show bosses to keep Kelly as part of the show's cast, as upset fans throw their support behind the longtime cast member.

The Change.org position, which is titled "Retain Kelly Monaco In The Cast Of General Hospital" has already garnered a whopping 10,759 signatures, as it inches ever closer to its 15,000 signatures goal.

The petition, which was started by "Holly V", is directed at The Walt Disney Company, ABC and General Hospital.

The page's blurb reads: "Many fans of General Hospital have grown up watching this iconic show. Sam McCall, masterfully portrayed by Kelly Monaco for over 2 decades, has woven herself into the fabric of our daily lives, becoming a beloved figure on screen. Now, Kelly has been blindsided and fired after 21 years.

"The thought of General Hospital without Sam's character is not just disappointing, it is unthinkable for the loyal audience. Her departure would strip the show of its core, disorienting many longtime viewers who have followed her storylines for years. Sam McCall is more than just a character to us, she represents a part of our own lives - triumphs, hardships, love, and loss. Without Kelly Monaco, this character’s journey abruptly ends, leaving her viewers with an incomplete story and void that can't be filled.

"We are making a plea to the producers and the network: keep Kelly Monaco on General Hospital. By signing this petition, you are standing with thousands of General Hospital fans in preserving a valuable part of the show’s history. It's time to respect the dedication and emotional investment of the viewers and, especially Kelly, who have dedicated their time and heart into the character. Join us in this critical rallying cry - Let's keep Kelly Monaco on General Hospital!"

Kelly was not the only cast member to be dropped from the soap opera in recent times, with fans recently venting over the decision to axe Jacqueline Grace Lopez.

The actress played Blaze in the soap from 2022 and was Kristina (Kate Mansi's) girlfriend. Like Kelly, Jacqueline's exit from the soap was also seemingly a surprise, with the actress admitting on social media that she "didn't see it coming".