Steve Burton fans are rallying around him days afterannouncing his split from his pregnant wife, according to a daytime soap expert.
“I was shocked with the message he put out,” Lott told PEOPLE. “It seemed out of place. He doesn’t really talk like that a lot. He was very succinct. He was to the point and spilled the tea. It seemed out of character on his online life.”
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TheformerGeneral Hospitalstarrevealed in his Instagram Story on Wednesday that he and the fitness pro, 47, are no longer together.
“I wanted to clear something up,” hewrote, adding, “Sheree and I are separated.”
Continued the 51-year-old actor, “She recently announced that she’s expecting her 4th child. The child is not mine. We are still co-parenting our three beautiful kids. We would appreciate privacy at this time. Much luv, Steve.”
steve burton/instagram
While fans were quick to speculate, Lott said the majority of his followers are in support of Burton and actually “feel bad for him.”
“They’re on his side,” he said. “Some daytime drama fans are very territorial and they’ll scream and holler at you, but next minute, if you get hurt, they’re right there for you. It’s like family. They’ll say you’re wrong, but then they’ll be with you when you need something.”
“Once you love him, you love him unconditionally,” added Lott, who has met Burton at various social gatherings and described him as “genuine and very gregarious.”
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The actor and Sheree married in 1999 after meeting on the set ofGeneral Hospital. Steve –– who shares daughters Makena, 18, and Brooklyn, 7, as well as son Jack, 16, with Sheree — did not clarify how long they have been separated.
Sheree has not publicly spoken out about their separation and has since deactivated her Instagram account.
Steve’s announcement comes nearly six months afterhe was let go fromGeneral Hospitalfor not complying with the show’s mandate for the coronavirus vaccine.
“I know there’s been a lot of rumors and speculations about me andGeneral Hospital. I wanted you to hear it from me personally,” hesaidin the clip. “Unfortunately,General Hospitalhas let me go because of the vaccine mandate. I did apply for my medical and religious exemptions, and both of those were denied, which, you know, hurts.”
He continued, “But this is also about personal freedom to me. I don’t think anyone should lose their livelihood over this. But with that being said, you know me, I’ll always be grateful for my time atGeneral Hospital, I love it there.”
“Maybe one day if these mandates are lifted, I can return and finish my career as Jason Morgan. That would be an honor,” he concluded, referencing the character he has played off and on since 1991.
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Now, Burton is set to return to hisDays of Our Livesrole of Harris Michaels, which he first took on in 1988. The actor is will appear in the second season of Peacock’s spinoffDays of Our Lives: Beyond Salem,which premieres on July 11, perSoap Central.
“People are excited and people are talking,” Lott said about Burton’s return. “The buzz is happening. They’re happy to see him back. It’s interesting too, the timing of this all.”
source: people.com
