General Hospital recently made history with the first fully Black baby born on screen in the show’s more than 60-year run. But who is the adorable little star behind the groundbreaking role?
Meet Yirah Aviah Lafond, the four-month-old daughter of social media influencers Hashim and Johnetta Lafond.
Yirah made her television debut in the July 15 episode as the newborn child of Portia Robinson (Brook Kerr) and Curtis Ashford (Donell Turner). While Yirah is a baby girl in real life, she portrays a baby boy on the long-running ABC soap.
Hashim proudly shared the news of his daughter’s first acting role on social media.
“Well would you look at that. You have another internet niece on television,” he wrote. “Yirah Aviah is the newest cast member on General Hospital. She’s four months today. The Lafond’s are gonna be the biggest family in arts and entertainment.”
FANS REACT TO THE HISTORIC MOMENT
Following the episode, longtime General Hospital viewers celebrated seeing a healthy Black mother and baby at the center of the storyline.
“So glad Portia was able to have her baby. He’s healthy. He’s alive. He’s with her,” one viewer wrote on X. “A little dramatic delivery, but finally a healthy, safe birth where mom & survive and no one is kidnapped or switched. Not to mention the first black baby born on screen.”
Another fan wrote, “General Hospital history was made today. Portia gave Birth to the first black baby born onscreen since 1989 and the 1st full black baby ever, and it’s a baby boy.”
One viewer even said the storyline had convinced them to start watching again.
“Wait, we finally got a black baby on General Hospital? Okay, I might be full back on watching it now.”
WHY YIRAH’S ROLE MADE ‘GENERAL HOSPITAL’ HISTORY
General Hospital has faced criticism over the years for its lack of diversity and the limited storylines given to its Black characters and families.
While Black families have appeared on the soap over the years, they have rarely been at the center of major storylines. Births involving Black characters have been even less common on screen.
In the 1980s, Bryan and Claudia Phillips, played by Todd Davis and Bianca Ferguson, welcomed twin daughters Donna and Francine, but their births took place off screen. Tom Hardy Jr. was born on screen, but the character was biracial.
With Portia’s delivery, Yirah has now set a precedent for the long-running soap. In the meantime, viewers will have to keep watching to find out what’s next for Portia, Curtis and their new addition.
General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC and streams on Hulu.
