General Hospital’s Genie Francis Opens Up About How Her Husband Learned to Rise to Challenges In Their Relationship
Last week, we brought readers details from General Hospital star Maurice Benard’s (Sonny) State of Mind podcast where he and his castmate Genie Francis (Laura) talked about the lack of couples on the ABC soap. And now, we have more details from their conversation, which took a turn toward some very personal parts of the actress’ life.
If you didn’t know, Francis has been married to Star Trek: The Next Generation actor and director Jonathan Frakes since May 28, 1988, and when talk turned to his wife’s anxiety, he hadn’t understood the depth of it. “I was selfish,” he stated. “We were both working nonstop and then I’d drag her out to see friends on the weekends. I didn’t realize how hard that was for her.”
Though over time, Frakes learned to recognize her triggers and give her space without guilt, his wife thought back to how an upcoming social event would cause panic. “I start to get panicky and cry and feel sick… my subconscious remembers I have an engagement that night before I consciously do,” she explained before the couple opened up about how they found a way to navigate depressive episodes together. “When I go down the rabbit hole… he will never leave me alone,” Genie shared. “When it lifts, I can finally stand up straight, I can breathe. And I look at him and say, ‘Thank you for not leaving me alone.’” Frakes then relayed, “You know what my shrink told me? When Genie goes that low, all you can do when she’s in a riverbank is just walk along. That’s it. It was the greatest piece of advice I ever got.”
Watch the full interview below for that and more…
Francis and Frakes are the perfect example when it comes to the old saying, couples who work together, stay together.
“The Jason Weems Trouble”: Monique Samuels’ freedom is THREATENED as sources reveal new man Jason Weems is STILL LEGALLY MARRIED and facing a BITTER CUSTODY BATTLE, confirming her escape is now MIRED IN LEGAL CHAOS
The alleged escape of former RHOP star Monique Samuels from her complicated marriage to Chris Samuels has reportedly led her straight into a new storm of legal drama. Sources reveal that her rumored new man, Jason Weems, a former radio co-host, is allegedly STILL LEGALLY MARRIED, confirming that Monique's new relationship is MIRED IN LEGAL CHAOS and threatening to shatter her hopes for a drama-free future.
While Monique has been open about "choosing herself" and moving on, the alleged circumstances surrounding Jason Weems' marital status threaten her public image and expose her to severe scrutiny.
The Allegation: Still Legally Married
The most damaging rumor currently swirling around Monique and Jason Weems is the allegation that he is not yet legally divorced from his wife. This would place Monique in the deeply controversial position of allegedly being involved with a married man.
Social Media Scrutiny: Discussions across social media platforms like Reddit highlight this allegation, with users pointing out that while Monique is the famous one, the legal and moral blame is shared if Weems is indeed still married.
The "Lie" Defense: The speculation includes common defenses used by men in such situations, such as claiming to be "separated" or "getting a divorce," but the legal fact remains: If he is still married, his divorce is a massive ongoing liability.
Bitter Custody Battle and Legal Chaos
While there are no confirmed court records detailing a "BITTER CUSTODY BATTLE" directly involving Jason Weems and his estranged wife, the combination of an alleged ongoing marriage and children automatically leads to a high-stakes, protracted legal custody dispute.
Monique’s Exposure: Any bitter family court dispute involving Weems means that Monique’s "freedom" and new relationship are constantly under the legal microscope. Her involvement with him could potentially be used by his ex-wife's legal team in the custody battle to question Weems' stability or judgment.
MIRED IN LEGAL CHAOS: Monique sought a new life free from the drama of her previous marriage and reality TV, yet her new relationship is allegedly entrenched in the messiest type of legal proceeding—a high-asset, high-emotion divorce and custody fight.
Monique has chosen to be open and transparent about her personal life on platforms like her YouTube channel, but the alleged legal status of her new partner's marriage ensures that her escape from one drama has simply led her straight into another, potentially much larger, scandal.
