GENERAL Hospital fans have started a petition to keep cast member Kelly Monaco on the soap after her shocking exit was recently announced.

A Change.com petition, which has over 10K signatures out of its 15K goal, was created to keep the character of Sam McCall on General Hospital.

Kelly, 48, has portrayed the role on the ABC soap for over two decades.

The petition, created by user Holly V last week, describes how important the character has been for longtime viewers.

“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,” the creator wrote.

“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,” Holly continued.

“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,” the user added.

The description noted that the petition aimed to gain producers’ attention to “preserve a 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,” it concluded.

KELLY’S GOODBYE

News of Kelly’s departure from the daytime series was revealed last week, with her due to make her final appearance this fall.

According to Soap Opera Network, it “wasn’t Kelly’s decision to leave” and she was allegedly “blindsided” by the news.

The outlet also stated that her character would be “killed off” in the soap, making her final appearance only weeks away.

The actress filmed over 2,000 episodes for the soap, leaving many fans heartbroken by the network’s decision.

“You have made a HUGE mistake. Using Kelly in the promo to welcome Steve Burton back, and then firing her is despicable. She’s an absolute gem,” one person wrote on X.

“This is absolutely devastating and if Sam/Kelly go, I will never watch @GeneralHospital again,” another said.

“This is an utterly ridiculous decision for GH to make. I can’t believe they’re doing this to Kelly Monaco, a veteran actress, and her character. Sam is very much needed on the show,” someone else complained.

Viewers have been trying to depict why ABC would kill off Sam and have blamed unimaginative story writing as the culprit.

“I feel like the issues with her character are the fault of writers and writers team transitions,” one person penned on Reddit.

“She’s a great actress but they haven’t utilized her in any meaningful or interesting way in a long time,” they added.

In 2006, Kelly earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for her performance as the private investigator on the longtime series.