Genie Francis who played the role of Laura Spencer on ‘General Hospital’ since 1977 has opened up about the date rape scene from 1979 that still left fans (and Francis) wondering why that incident happened. The soap opera star said during ABC’s Television Critics Association presentation on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 that, “I don’t condone it, and it’s been a burden that I’ve had to carry to try to justify that story.”
Laura and Luke (Anthony Geary) were nicknamed “super couple” in the soap opera around the late 1970s and early 1980s. Laura was raped by Luke, but surprisingly, they fell in love and later tied the knot. Not much was heard about them in the years that followed.
‘General Hospital’ Star, Genie Francis Will No Longer ‘Defend’ The “Luke Raped Laura” Story: ‘It’s Been a Burden’
However, 60-year-old Laura has now told reporters, “I don’t defend it anymore. You know, as a young kid, at 17, I was told to play rape, and I played it. I didn’t even know what it was. But, at 17, you follow the rules, and you do as you are told, and you aim to please. At 60, I don’t feel the need to defend that anymore.”
The star added, “I think the story was inappropriate, I don’t condone it, and it’s been a burden that I’ve had to carry to try to justify the story, and so I’m not doing that anymore. I think, when a woman says ‘No’ that she should be listened to, and if you replay that scene, you don’t have Laura just saying ‘No.’ You have her screaming ‘No.’”
Genie said further, “I think of what an uncomfortable day that was to shoot. You know, in super-spiked high heels, sinking in the mud. I have got that headdress on, which is pretty, but it was wired, and it was sticking in my head, and I was not allowed to sit down because you couldn’t wrinkle that dress.” She continued, “And that was very, very physically uncomfortable, and everybody was super tense because it was such a big deal.
There’s a picture, I think, that they showed where we start to dance. That was after the ceremony, and we started to dance the Virginia reel, and then I actually started to have fun. But, before that, it was a very tough day of shooting.” The soap opera star also talked about how the wedding scene impacted fans, saying “You know it’s hard to put that in just one sentence. It’s still sinking in to me how big a deal it was. At the time, I knew it was popular, but I never dreamed that we would be celebrating the 60th [anniversary] and still talking about that moment. “
