General Hospital star Ryan Paevey finally reveals WHY he made shock decision to step back from acting
Ryan Paevey, who shot to fame as the dashing Nathan West on General Hospital, has finally revealed why he has withdrawn from acting.
The 39-year-old announced in April that he was stepping back from Hollywood but was vague about his reasons, leading to a blizzard of speculation.
He deleted his accounts on Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, this Wednesday, explaining that he had grown fed up of 'scammers' who had apparently been impersonating him to swindle fans out of money.
On Friday he finally explained that showbiz has taken a toll on his 'mental health,' bringing him to a 'dark place' he felt he had to escape.
He added that he had to move away to Los Angeles in order to care for his mother during her battle with lung cancer, in a statement provided to Heavy.
Ryan Paevey, who shot to fame as the dashing Nathan West on General Hospital , has finally revealed why he has withdrawn from acting; pictured 2021
Ryan, who in recent years has been known for Hallmark movies, revealed this April that he 'may take 2024 off from filming, unless the project is with friends.'
Writing on X, he explained: 'The last 8 months of life in this industry have left a pretty bitter taste in my mouth, and i need some time away from a world so full of fake friends and empty promises. I'm weary.'
Conjecture went into overdrive, to the point that this week Ryan found himself issuing a statement clarifying his position.
He expressed his frustration with the 'speculation from third parties that have taken my words and expanded upon them to meet their narrative, or flat out misrepresented my words or misconstrued their meaning.'
Pointing out that 'social media makes it very easy to twist one's words,' he shared that he will occasionally get messages from his team 'in a panic' over a rumor.
Ryan disclosed that he 'felt' he ought to pull back from acting 'for a while now,' and over 'the past few weeks' he determined the move was 'absolutely necessary.'
'The industry hasn't felt like the place for me in quite some time now, and my mental health has suffered from it. It's taken me to a bit of a dark place, made me into a version of myself I don't like very much. I've vented some of my anger and frustration publicly, and for that I apologize,' he said.
'I've had many years of smooth sailing, and am very lucky to be able to say that, but the waters have been much rougher the last year or so,' he added.
'I've had bank accounts hacked, money embezzled, investments stolen….things that, while difficult, can be recovered from.'
When he learned of his mother's cancer, however, he 'left Los Angeles to be closer to her' and to 'devote more of my time, energy, and resources closer to home.'
Ryan previously revealed that the slings and arrows of social media eventually drove him to quit his role on General Hospital in 2018; pictured on the soap opera with Kirsten Storms
In recent years Ryan has been known for a string of Hallmark movies, including the 2019 production From Friend To Fiancé, in which he is pictured with Jocelyn Hudon
He expressed his warm gratitude 'to General Hospital for giving a green actor a chance and tolerating his learning curve, to Hallmark for changing my life and taking me to places that have become my favorite on Earth,' among others, but noted that he was 'simply shifting focus closer; to family.'
Professionally, he is redirecting his attention to Fortunate Wanderer, a website where he sells handcrafted jewelry that he also advertises on his Instagram.
Ryan previously revealed that the slings and arrows of social media eventually drove him to quit his role on General Hospital in 2018.
'It's why I bowed out years ago,' he wrote on X in April. 'Soap Twitter was one of the most caustic online environments I've ever experienced'
He slammed the 'Droves of armchair judges with no ability or experience standing in judgment of people out there working hard to entertain. Don't miss it at all.'