How Kirsten Storms was written off 'General Hospital' after 21 years following 'mental health crisis'
Kirsten Storms is off General Hospital after 21 years of playing the character Maxie Jones. The show wrote her character out by having her relocate to Australia on the most recent episode. This exit follows a difficult period for the actress involving legal and personal issues with her ex-husband, Brandon Barash.
Storms returned to the show in February 2026 after a six-month hiatus that she previously stated was for brain surgery. However, her return was short-lived. She announced in June that she would step away from the series again, citing personal challenges related to family court proceedings. The production has not issued a formal statement regarding the departure.
Court documents from April reveal that Barash secured an emergency restraining order against Storms. He cited concerns regarding the safety of their 12-year-old daughter. His claims included allegations of housing instability and mental health struggles. Storms has since addressed the situation on social media, describing it as a disagreement between two divorced parents. She asked the public to stop speculating on the details for the sake of their daughter.
This departure marks a significant shift for the long-running daytime drama. Storms has been a fixture on the series since 2005. While the show opted to write the character out rather than recast, the move closes a two-decade chapter for both the actress and the fans of the program.