We're pretty sure that if General Hospital head writer Ron Carlivati had gotten the chance to pen his exit from the ABC soap, he would have written his final chapter much differently than reality played out. The longtime scribe, who has served as head writer in Port Charles since 2012 and was also a head writer for One Life to Live when it was still on the air, was unceremoniously let go last week following a run of dismal ratings.

News of Carlivati's exit spread like wildfire, and it ignited a host of social media reactions from stars like Michelle Stafford (Nina Clay, GH; ex-Phyllis Summers, The Young and the Restless) and Laura Wright (Carly Corinthos, GH; ex-Cassie Winslow, Guiding Light).

"I want to thank the brilliant @carlivatiron for creating this amazing character I have the great fortune of playing everyday on #GH!!" Stafford tweeted.

"Thank you @carlivatiron for your words ­ filled with heart and laughter," Wright wrote along with clapping emoticons. "Thank you for your hard work and enthusiasm XOXO!!"

Kathleen Gati (Dr. Obrecht) and Parry Shen (Brad Cooper) also joined in on the thanks for the exiting scribe. "Thank you @carlivatiron for the evil, the crazy, the tears, the quirky, the song and dance... and all the other faces of Dr. Obrecht!! XOXO," wrote Gati, while Shen tweeted, "[Thank you] @carlivatiron for the chance to showcase stuff I never got to do in my 18yr career & the challenge to do stuff I didn't know I could do."

Jean Passanante, who will be replacing Carlivati along with co-head writer Shelly Altman, also responded to the writer switcheroo. "Thank you, well-wishing fans," she wrote. "And thanks to @carlivatiron for the moving, hilarious, romantic, suspenseful, nutty things you brought to #GH."

Jaclyn Zeman (Bobbie Spencer) and Wally Kurth (ex-Ned Ashton, GH; Justin Kiriakis, Days of our Lives) also got in on the gratitude-filled goodbyes. Zeman wrote, "@carlivatiron, Enjoy this time off as I'm sure u will be stepping into something new soon. Best wishes 2 u always. Happy thoughts #GH," while Kurth wrote, "A big TY to @carlivatiron! He wrote Ned/me back onto the #GH canvas as if I'd never left. And I am forever grateful. God speed!"

Fellow GH writer Scott Sickles also tweeted about Carlivati's exit. "Because of @carlivatiron, I write for legends! Heartbreak, thrills and inspired lunacy. U gave me Llanview & Port Charles. U've made my life!"

Former GH head writer Michele Val Jean, who is now part of The Bold and the Beautiful's writing team, offered high praise. "@carlivatiron You saved #GH from certain cancellation. That's not nothing. Thank you for that. Hang in there." Val Jean also called being head writer a "thankless job."

UPDATE
On July 27, Ron Carlivati took to Twitter to offer his own thanks. "Thanks to everyone @GeneralHospital for 4 wonderful years. And thanks to the #GH fans for all your love & support. It means the world to me."

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