AceShowbiz - Kirsten Storms, well-known for her long-standing role as Maxie Jones on "General Hospital," recently caused a wave of concern among her fans when she shared an Instagram photo that made it look like she had a severe black eye. The alarming black-and-white selfie showed a large part of her face covered in black powder, prompting immediate worry and speculation.

However, the 40-year-old actress quickly put those fears to rest with a humorous caption explaining the incident. "One of those 'funny story, but not funny when I need coffee' moments," she wrote. "I've opened several canisters of @illy_coffee tins and never have the grounds exploded out of that cute metal container. ::sigh:: There is a first time for everything."

Storms added that she prefers her coffee brewed in hot water or over ice because brewing it directly from the container doesn't taste so great.

Fans breathed a collective sigh of relief as they read through her detailed account of the incident. Many expressed their joy that it wasn't a medical emergency, drawing attention to how beloved Storms is by her audience.

"Thank god it's only coffee…but it could have gotten into your eyes! Glad you're okay!!!" one relieved fan commented. Another fan echoed the sentiment, "So that's coffee, right??? Not a bruise??"

The photo initially had many wondering if it was related to her portrayal of Maxie Jones, with comments like "I thought it was a GH storyline. I'm thinking 'who would dare to give Maxie a black eye?' " In fact, some even thought it might have been from an upcoming scene on the show.

Storms has portrayed Maxie Jones since 2005 although her role was undertaken by Jen Lilley temporarily in 2011 and Nicole Paggi briefly in December 2022. The actress has been candid about her struggles with bipolar disorder, sharing on her co-star Maurice Benard's podcast, "State of Mind," that she frequently experiences anxiety and has had panic attacks.

"I experience anxiety frequently. I have bipolar 1," she revealed, sharing how her life substantially improved after she began taking medication for her condition.

Despite the occasional humorous mishaps, Kirsten Storms continues to be a beloved figure both on and off the screen, with fans relieved that this latest incident was nothing more than a coffee accident.