Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.yahoo.com
General Hospital star Steve Burton wanted his 12-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, beside him at the Daytime Emmy Awards. His ex-wife, Sheree Gustin, allegedly rejected the invitation because she did not want their daughter around the Hollywood scene.
Text messages submitted in the parents’ custody dispute, reported by TMZ on October 31, detail the disagreement. Their exchange moved from scheduling arrangements to accusations about how each parent presented Brooklyn publicly.
The actor plays Jason Morgan on the ABC soap, a role that earned him a lead-acting nomination this year. He wanted his daughters to share the occasion with him.
The ceremony took place Friday, October 30, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
Burton Offered to Swap Parenting Days for the Emmys
According to the alleged texts, Burton asked to collect Brooklyn on Friday morning and return her Saturday. He offered to exchange parenting days to accommodate the overnight visit.
Gustin initially replied that the arrangement would not work. Burton emphasized how much the occasion meant to him, describing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The invitation had already surfaced in court documents covered by TMZ on October 23. Burton cited the refusal as an example of what he considered Gustin’s unwillingness to cooperate with reasonable changes to their schedule.
The earlier filing concerned his broader request for additional parenting time. TMZ’s subsequent account of the texts did not report a court order granting the proposed exchange.
Gustin Allegedly Objected to Hollywood and Brooklyn’s Public Exposure
Gustin reportedly challenged his description of the occasion, writing, “Once in a lifetime lol?” She then allegedly told him, “I don’t want Brooklyn anywhere near Hollywood or that scene.”
Her objection also concerned the attention their daughter had already received. In the messages described by TMZ, she criticized Burton for featuring Brooklyn on social media and in magazine appearances.
Burton responded that he wanted his daughters with him to celebrate his nomination. He disputed the suggestion that the invitation was about publicizing Brooklyn, describing it as an experience he wanted to share with his family.
He also challenged what he saw as an inconsistency in Gustin’s position. Burton argued that her business depended on social media, where she had featured Brooklyn herself, and referenced the lifestyle his television career had supported during their marriage.
The exchange published by TMZ did not show a reply from Gustin to Burton’s final message.
Burton Attended With Michelle, Makena and His Stepdaughters
Burton walked the red carpet with his wife, Michelle, and other family members. TV Insider identified his eldest daughter, Makena, and Michelle’s daughters, Lilah and Hannah, among those accompanying him.
Burton and Michelle had made their red-carpet debut as a couple at the 2024 Daytime Emmys. They married in May 2025.
Brooklyn was not identified in the published red-carpet account. Her attendance elsewhere at the ceremony, or any separate arrangement the parents may have reached, was not established by that coverage.
Michelle, a former contestant on Netflix’s Barbecue Showdown, has shared photographs of Brooklyn spending time with her daughters. In July, she posted footage of a family boat outing with the three girls and the family’s dog, Wyatt.
General Hospital Won Best Drama as Burton Missed Out on Lead Actor
The nominees for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor included Burton, Eric Braeden, Thorsten Kaye, Christian Jules LeBlanc and Scott Clifton.
Clifton won for his portrayal of Liam Spencer on The Bold and the Beautiful. It was his second lead-actor victory; his 2017 win had already made him the first male performer to collect Daytime Emmys in the younger, supporting and lead acting categories.
Burton’s nomination was his 11th overall, according to Soap Opera Digest. He previously won supporting-actor awards in 1998 for General Hospital and in 2017 for The Young and the Restless.
Although Burton did not win his category, General Hospital collected Outstanding Daytime Drama Series for the sixth consecutive year and the 19th time overall, The Associated Press reported. The ABC soap also won for writing and Jeff Kober’s guest performance.
Genie Francis received the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by her husband, Jonathan Frakes. The actress, who began playing Laura in 1977, was helped onto the stage by her children while recovering from a broken ankle.
Gustin Has Disputed Burton’s Claims in Their Relocation Fight
Burton and Gustin separated in 2022 after approximately 23 years of marriage and finalized their divorce in December 2023. They also share an adult son, Jack. Their original settlement provided for joint legal and physical custody of Brooklyn, although the parenting schedule has since changed.
Their recent filings have focused on moves between California and Tennessee. Burton told the court he returned permanently to California after signing a three-year General Hospital contract in June, following a break from the series.
Gustin subsequently sought permission to relocate to Tennessee. In an August 6 filing reviewed by Us Weekly, she argued that Burton’s repeated moves created instability and maintained that she had consistently been Brooklyn’s primary caregiver.
Burton has also accused Gustin of interfering with Brooklyn’s relationship with Michelle and her daughters. As Wealth of Geeks previously reported, his September allegations included claims that Gustin discouraged communication between the girls.
Gustin’s earlier filing rejected his broader allegations of parental alienation. She said Brooklyn could freely contact her father through calls, texts and FaceTime, and argued that following their agreed parenting orders should not be characterized as keeping their daughter from him.
