GH Writer Breaks Silence on Luke & Laura Rape Plot

Emmy-winning writer Sheri Anderson is speaking out about her role in crafting the infamous 1979 Luke and Laura rape storyline on General Hospital. Anderson revealed that the directive came from network leadership, despite the writing staff's initial shock and objections.

Anderson explained that research was conducted to handle the sensitive subject of 'date rape' at the time. However, she admitted that the show attempted to rationalize the scene by portraying Luke as an outcast. The executive producer at the time, Gloria Monty, reportedly pushed to make the rape depiction as brutal as possible.

Despite the pairing becoming a beloved soap opera couple, Anderson emphasized that the storyline had lasting negative impacts. She clarified that Luke admitted to raping Laura in a 1998 episode, and their lives were altered by the secret, stating, "It was rape, and it was wrong."

Genie Francis, who played Laura, has also expressed her strong negative feelings about the storyline, calling it "awful" and stating that it should not have been done. Anderson now agrees with this retrospective view, having previously tried to defend the storyline, which she now recognizes was a mistake.