Kirsten Storms, who has portrayed Maxie Jones on "General Hospital" for 21 years, has been written off the ABC daytime drama following reports of a "mental health crisis." The character's departure, moving to Australia with her family, was revealed in Thursday's episode, as reported by Page Six.
This abrupt exit follows a period of personal turmoil for Storms, 42. Last summer, she took a six-month break from the show to undergo brain surgery, during which her character was placed in a coma. She relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, with her daughter, Harper Rose, 12, whom she shares with ex-husband and fellow actor Brandon Barash.
Upon her return to "General Hospital" in February, Storms appeared in only a few episodes. She had announced last month that she would be taking more time off due to legal issues with her ex-husband.
Barash was granted an emergency restraining order against Storms in April. Court documents cited by Page Six indicate that Barash expressed concerns about Storms' alleged "mental health crisis," including housing and financial instability, and potential substance abuse that he claimed impaired her ability to parent their daughter.
According to these documents, Barash stated that Storms lacked a permanent residence between September 2024 and June 2025, often staying with friends or in hotels due to fears of being followed. He also claimed to have loaned her $5,000 to prevent her car from being repossessed.
Barash alleged that in May 2025, Storms began experiencing "delusions and hallucinations" and stated she should not have their daughter for her scheduled parenting time. She was subsequently taken to a hospital and placed on a psychiatric hold, later being released. A friend of Storms reportedly told Barash that they believed the actress was abusing Adderall.
Barash requested the court order Storms to undergo a mental health evaluation.
Storms addressed the situation in a statement posted on her Instagram account on July 19. She acknowledged an "ongoing situation with Brandon that will be getting sorted out" and asked for speculation to cease, emphasizing that she and Barash are divorced co-parents dealing with a "disagreement."
"Please remember that we are people who are divorced and have a child," Storms wrote. "I appreciate the supportive comments, but now that my daughter is of the age where she will Google her name while riding the bus to school, I’m asking that the speculation on this issue please stop."
On "General Hospital," Maxie Jones's departure involves her moving to Australia with Damien Spinelli and their children after Spinelli accepted a job offer. Fans have expressed mixed reactions to Storms's abrupt exit, with some hoping for a recast and others supporting the show's handling of the situation given the circumstances.
