Over 10,000 General Hospital fans petition to keep Kelly Monaco on show after her surprise exit

General Hospital star Kelly Monaco, who plays Sam McCall on the ABC soap opera, will have to depart soon due to the unexpected decision of the show's creators to kill off her character this fall. The news, first reported by Soap Opera Network, mentioned that Kelly was “blindsided” by the sudden decision to remove her character.

Fans of General Hospital were as shocked as the actress by the showrunners' decision. Viewers have criticized the call to remove Kelly from the cast, believing that she was not only a part of the show but also a representation of their reality. In response, one of the fans, Holly V, started a petition on Change.org with an appeal to retain the actress.

The raised petition received 10,000 signatures from fans across the country in just a week and has been aimed at getting 15,000 signatures to persuade the makers to change their minds about removing Kelly Monaco from General Hospital.

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General Hospital: What does the petition say?

Kelly Monaco started her journey on General Hospital as Sam McCall in her late 20s. Her first episode aired on October 1, 2003, and in 2023, the actress completed her two decades on the daytime show.

In August 2024, news about Kelly exiting the show surfaced as her character was being killed, following the creative decision made by the makers. To grab the attention of the makers and to make them re-think about taking Kelly out of the cast, the fans have gathered and signed a petition to “Retain Kelly Monaco in the Cast of General Hospital.”

The petition, initiated by a fan named Holly V, aims to get 15,000 signatures. The petition describes how important Kelly is to the fans as well as to the show’s history.

"The thought of General Hospital without Sam's character is not just disappointing, it is unthinkable for the loyal audience," Holly wrote.

Holly also mentioned how Kelly’s departure can affect the show from its core and can make fans and longtime viewers restless since they have been following her storylines for years. The character will have an abrupt end without Kelly Monaco, leaving an incomplete story and a void that can't be filled.

"Sam McCall is more than just a character to us, she represents a part of our own lives - triumphs, hardships, love, and loss,” Holly added.

The description of the petition mentions that it is aimed to gain producers' attention to "preserve a part of the show's history."

The actress has appeared in over 2,000 episodes of the daytime show, connecting with viewers and resonating with them with her complex storylines. The petition lastly mentions that the show can’t just take away Sam from Kelly and fans whenever they want.

"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."

Fans have been commenting on the petition post, showing their support for retaining Kelly. They have also uploaded their videos while explaining the sadness due to the decision made by the makers.

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Fans of General Hospital can watch the new episodes of the show on ABC and Hulu.