Equipment Connor is greatest identified for taking part in Nick within the LGBTQ+ Netflix rom-com “Heartstopper,” which follows teenagers as they navigate their method by way of college, their emotions, and their sexualities. Whereas the collection itself spotlights LGBTQ+ characters in a superbly genuine method — giving lots of them ample area to return out in their very own time — the compassionate messaging behind the present seems to have been misplaced on many, as evidenced by Connor’s latest put up.
The “Rocketman” star wrote a tweet late on 31 Oct. asserting that he’s bisexual, however he added that he felt compelled to return out after being harassed by followers. The actor wrote, “again for a minute. i am bi. congrats for forcing an 18 12 months previous to out himself. i feel a few of you missed the purpose of the present. bye”.
Moments after Connor’s tweet, supportive feedback flooded his timeline, each with love for the star and anger on the circumstances beneath which he felt he needed to make the announcement. “Heartstopper” author Alice Oseman responded by tweeting, “I actually do not perceive how folks can watch Heartstopper after which gleefully spend their time speculating about sexualities and judging based mostly on stereotypes. I hope all these persons are embarrassed as FUCK. Equipment you’re wonderful 💖”.
Joe Locke, his “Heartstopper” castmate who performs Charlie, replied by tweeting, “You owe nothing to anybody. I am so pleased with you my pal 💕”. Kizzy Edgell, who performs Darcy Olsson, tweeted, “love u package im sorry this has been so disgustingly tough on you. been handled so unfairly”, whereas costar Sebastian Croft, who performs Ben Hope, wrote, “Equipment Connor, the world does not deserve you. Love you my pal ❤️”.
The toxicity that prompted Connor’s tweet was largely as a consequence of him being accused of queerbaiting by followers following footage of him holding palms together with his costar in “A Cuban Lady’s Information to Tea and Tomorrow”, queer actress Maia Reficco. As a consequence of troubling feedback directed on the actor, he’d come off Twitter in September, writing “It is a foolish foolish app. bit bored of it now, deleting twitter :)”, but made a fleeting return to set the report straight.
Connor had additionally beforehand spoken about pointless hypothesis surrounding his sexuality and his unease at being labelled. “To begin type of speculating about our sexualities and perhaps pressuring us to return out when perhaps we’re not prepared. For me, I simply really feel completely assured and cozy with my sexuality,” he stated on the Reign With Josh Smith podcast in Might. “However I do not really feel the necessity to actually, you already know – I am not too massive on labels and issues like that. I am not large about that.”
Many followers had been fast to reply to Connor’s tweet and voice their frustration. “Studying tweets like that is heartbreaking . . . particularly when Heartstopper taught so many individuals all over the world the true worth of somebody’s private popping out story. I am so sorry you had this second taken away from you Equipment, however let’s hope folks will study from it!”, one wrote. One other tweeted, “I am so upset on this fandom.”
Connor himself summed up the weird phenomenon of judging, labelling, and making unwarranted theories of these within the public eye. “It feels a bit unusual to make assumptions about an individual’s sexuality simply based mostly on listening to their voice or seeing their look. I really feel like that is a really attention-grabbing, barely problematic type of assumption to make,” he stated.
But once more, we’re reminded that celebrities are human too; followers aren’t entitled to every part. Nobody ought to really feel pressured to publicly announce their sexuality earlier than they’re snug in doing or saying so — particularly an adolescent. We’re sending love and help to Connor.
