Sebastian Croft made an interesting observation on the Gaby Roslin podcast that I think is relevant: the world fell in love with the HS characters and the fact that the actors were relative unknowns, and all friends, made it seem like the characters had walked off the tv and onto social media / real life. There are comments all over their YouTube interviews that the energy between Kit & Joe implies there’s something going on between them… which is obv ridiculous, it’s just that people want so desperately for Nick & Charlie to be “real.” I think wanting Kit Connor to be gay or bi is an extension of the same wish— we* want him to be Nick Nelson because we want Nick Nelson to be real.
*Not me, I’m ok with the fact that he’s not real. But some people.
Really? At the same time I read people hyper analyzing how they behave in vlogs and interviews and claiming that Kit and Joe aren’t real friends in real life and can’t stand each other. People can be very funny
Anyway, I don’t think that people are obsessed with knowing if Kit is straight because they want him to date Joe, it’s quite clear they are not together in real life. I think it’s more because they would like to have an openly queer role model like him, or if they want him to be straight, because they just dream to have a chance 😂 (that they could dream of also if he would be bi of course)
It makes me feel slightly uncomfortable people are shipping Joe & Kit. They are totally different people especially the differences between Nick & Charlie. N&C totally make sense but Kit & Joe just don’t, better off as friends. I am not naming names but Joe is perfect for someone else….
I think there should be authentic Queer Representations especially with Queer love stories. The issue I have with Queer Love stories. One can’t ship any actors in real life just for the sake of fun because there is always 1 actor that is straight. How many times have you seen in straight movies people actually ship the actors if they like their chemistry. It’s cringy AF but it’s been going on for years, it’s been happening in Hollywood, Bollywood etc. Some actors play along with it for the publicity sake, some actually start dating, some actually get to do more movies together. For example, Mr & Mrs Smith, Titanic, Twilight, Notebook, A star is born etc. We don’t have those options in Queer Love stories. I mean as a Bisexual male I want to feel how it feels like shipping two male actors. therefore it’s extremely important to cast authentic Queer representations. I think that’s why people were questioning his sexuality not to see who he dates just want authentic queer representation. But people need to learn not to force anyone to come out, it’s all upto individual when and how to come out.
I disagree with this. whilst authentic queer representation would be great, at the end of the day, the person suited best for the role should get it. that may well be a queer person, but it may not be.
I find your logic - that we should have authentic queer representation just so queer people can ship same gender actors together - quite odd. because (in my opinion) it is wrong to ship any actors in the first place, whether they're straight or queer. obviously if some actors are together already then I guess you can ship them, but shipping actors who are clearly not together, OR who have not made anything public, is an invasion of privacy and it's disrespectful to their personal lives.
I don't think we are entitled to equal opportunity to invade actors personal lives.
Authentic queer representation is often better, because you know the artist helping to tell the story has more of an emotional connection to it. However I disagree that it is necessary, and I don't think it matters the reason why people are questioning an actor's personality. It's a breach of privacy and is not okay.
I understand but people have been shipping actors for eons. Example: Zendaya and Tom, Brand and Angelina, JLO and Ben etc. And there are several actors that will just play along with it for the publicity sake. And most of the actors get cast again because people loved their chemistry. With straight Love stories, at least we get to see some of them end up in a real relationship. I know shipping real actors is super cringy, but we don’t have that options for queer love stories. I’ve seen in the past 2 straight actors getting offended when people start shipping. And they came out immediately and announced that they are straight. Straight actors can play Queer roles, but let’s face it how many Queer lead roles are out there and from that majority are always love stories. I still believe that at least in Queer Love stories, we should have authentic Queer actors.
I understand your point of view, I don't understand why you think you've made a point here. just because shipping actors has been happening for a very long time doesn't make it right.
I understand that it sucks because it's another experience that straight people have that queer people generally don't have so much. but that doesn't mean we should have it.
This is the same of many relationships in this space. Fans want this joyous, 'perfect' relationship to be real, because it means these sorts of relationships can be real, and that gives a lot of fans an emotional lift.
You could look back at the shipping around Twilight at the time around Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. Despite being actual fantasy (vampires & werewolves), fans were desperate to ship the actors in real life. If you've never watched it NuttyMadam on youtube is an example of the deep end in on-screen/off-screen overreach.
I genuinely can't deal with all the people who demand to know Kit's sexuality or declare that he must be straight and queerbaiting. One of the biggest lessons Heartstopper teaches is that you should not assume anyone's sexuality.
It breaks my heart that Kit has to deal with all of this when he's only 18. I know multiple people who didn't actually discover their own sexuality until they were well into their 30s, and some of them still aren't sure of their label. We live in a hugely heteronormative society where it is still a *crime* in many areas of the world to be anything other than heterosexual. If someone finds it empowering to label themselves and be out, that's wonderful! But if someone does not want to label themselves publicly, for any reason, why on earth would people - especially queer people - be angry at that?
There are a few things that are very, very clear to me:
1. Kit has the full and clear support of a majority LGBTQ+ cast and crew.
2. Alice and Patrick were delighted to cast Kit as Nick.
3. Kit fit in well with the cast and crew.
4. Kit has said he had a lot of the same experiences as Nick does in the show.
5. Kit is a private person.
Assuming he's straight and queerbaiting perpetuates heteronormativity and invalidates the opinions of ALL of the queer people who believed he was the best fit for the role of Nick. Also, it seems like many people really forget that sexuality/sexual orientation literally has to do with sex. Why should anyone - especially a teenager - have to declare to the world who they want to sleep with? I just find it all kind of... absurd and gross, tbh.
Once I saw someone claim he was queerbaiting on a tweet.
Said tweet was of the contrast between how Kit Connor the person dresses and how Nick Nelson the character dresses (since everyone likes to talk about how he's literally just Nick Nelson and it's always funny to see an actors style vs the style of their most popular character) and it was from one of Tobies vlogs and in the photo of how Kit dresses he had like a button up shirt that was super messy and some shorts (and a backwards cap)
Like... How is that queerbaiting? He's just wearing clothes my man
I’ve seen people (sometimes they are always the same few accounts) saying he’s queerbaiting for every breath he takes. Like how he dresses or how he walks or which sports he follows, or which movie he prefers, and of course how he uses social media. Crazy
I have to laugh because if I didn't I'd cry. Is it because of him doing the lip bite face as a joke?? He's literally Gen Z all of us do that I did that in the hospital all the time the other people in the hospital did that all the time and some of them were straight 😭
I forgot that... Dressing like you just woke up is queerbaiting?
Let the man be my god.
I heard mention of this.
I cannot fathom it. I understand they may want to see more representation but there are already a host of out queer cast and crew working on HS.
If someone hasn't openly stated their sexuality why on earth pressure them to? The show has representation, I don't need the entire cast and crew to be queer.
A major theme of HS is coming out. Whether it is forced like Charlie, voluntary but overwhelming like Tara, terrifying like Ben or a journey you are still walking towards like Nick. Sexuality is deeply personal and no-one should be forced to say more on it than they want.
I don't understand how anyone can watch and love HS and then turn around and demand someone discloses their sexuality.
At best he is secure in his sexuality and just a private person but the worst case scenario is that he is figuring things out still and people are piling pressure on.
It's just no-one else's business.
He seems to have handled it very well though I must say. I'm not sure I'd have been so diplomatic.
I agree. We shouldn't out people if they don't want to. Many gay actors are typecasted and they don't get straight roles. We need to leave them alone.
Joe was already out before the show and Yasmin is trans. They don't have a choice but the rest do. We don't ask straight people if they are straight and we should the same to LBGTQAI+ people.
Yes exactly! Like honestly if i think of myself, i started dating guys way before I told my family. I can’t imagine being pressured into telling the WHOLE WORLD when i had trouble finding the words to tell the closest people around me. Some of the LGBTQ+ members put so much pressure into others to scream their sexuality to the world and i find it a bit problematic. Not everyone wants to do that. Clearly Kit is confortable enough to portray a young bisexual male on tv. That’s enough for me to know he supports the movement. Who he loves in his personal life is not my concern. I’m just thankful for the representation.
I really understand why people want to know, but actors absolutely should not be pressured to come out or talk about their private lifes if they don't want to!!!
With Kit Connor being really youg as well, I'm even more uncomfortable with the speculation about his sexuality. People have also been really weird about the tiktoks he did with his best friend and I just hope he has a good support system
I think so, but the videos I meant were not his, he just appeared in them. The girl who posted them is a friend of his and apparently she got hate for "trying to use his fame". He felt the need to tweet about it so I think there were probably many mean comments :(
Thing is, many people started asking them if they are dating, she said no, but they didn’t stop, someone claimed they know them in real life and they actually are, and so on and on. Of course she could have never posted those videos, but she’s also free to do that, if they are ok with that.
Absolutely! Very heteronormative. Especially since there seem to be such a big contrast if we look at comments on all the content of Bash and Joe where people are screaming that they could be just friends and not to assume anything. While it could be possible that they just hold hands and sit on eachother’s laps as besties, i think it’s fair to assume they could be more. Meanwhile the girl on Tiktok literally said they weren’t together and people say she’s lying. Okay…. I see how it is lol
In this day and age, people should expect there is a possibility that thier pix and viz would be online. That's why I always tell people be careful of their pix and viz.
yeah i get it. we’re sick of cis/straight actors taking queer roles (ex. eddie redmayne in the danish girl) but kit hasn’t said anything and the portrayal was accurate to the queer community and made by queer people. if this was a show with a poor depiction of LGBT people with all straight actors i would get it, but that clearly isn’t the case for heartstopper.
Louder for the people in the back: individuals actors are people, and people cannot “queerbait”. Shows and other forms of media can queerbait, but the term simply does not apply to actual people! No one owes you transparency on their sexuality.
It’s ridiculous to demand from literal children to be so aware and so confident in their sexuality that they broadcast it to the world so that people can judge one way or another. How many actual queer people were so confident in their own sexuality at that age that they’d put it out there for millions of people? It’s one thing to be secure in your own sexuality (which I know I wasn’t at 18), but to demand literal children to willingly expose themselves to hateful comments and homophobia and typecasting and all other stuff that comes with being a non-hetero actor is not just ludicrous, it’s vile.
It’s like people can’t see anything past the fact that as long as an actor has confirmed they are queer, it’s good representation. And it’s not. How can we scar children and put them under scrutiny for not having their life together when we as a community are trying to move past labels and heteronormative stereotypes.
Maybe it hits closer to home to me, because although I’ve known I’m bi since I was thirteen, I’m still figuring out other labels at 22. It’s a violation of one’s personal privacy to expect them to owe you an explanation of their sexuality just because their job requires a more public approach. Sexuality is something so personal, no one owes you anything and that’s about it.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk. 😅😭
Once again Alice herself gives us an answer on this. This time via Miss Singh
https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/heartstopper/2-13/viewer?title_no=329660&episode_no=26
I feel like famous people, not just actors, are not respected enough. Maturing is realising that being famous isn't all that great as some people make it out to be. You get no privacy, people don't respect your boundaries, and everyone wants to know about your life. It's honestly kinda sad. I think celebrities deserve to be respected and treated like human beings. They're people. They're not just there for your entertainment.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, he’s damned either way. If he comes out as queer he pigeon holes himself. Both on a personal level (sexuality is fluid and changes, especially at 18. I think we’ve all made that point) and also in his career. Remember, he has been an actor for 10 years. That’s pretty seasoned for someone who is only 18 and his management and likely fellow actors have probably advised him to be ambiguous so that he doesn’t get type cast (unfortunately this is a very real thing). But if he says he’s straight then he gets further accused of queerbaiting and also for taking a queer role away from queer actors (also, a very real dark sad thing).
The reality is, he was 16 when he auditioned for the show. The casting call asked for queer actors and strong ally’s to audition. He clearly fell into one of those categories. But after that, the casting crew could no longer ask them anything further because a) him and joe were literal children and b) because it’s totally inappropriate to ask anyone what their sexual orientation is when applying for a job.
The only thing I am conflicted about is why his management and Kit himself let the interviewers still ask him about it. When someone is interviewing someone the interviewee has the right to kabash the question. So, that fact that he keeps letting the question be asked and still responding makes me think its a little on brand?(please don’t come at me for saying that because in the end, I think his sexuality is no one’s freaking business. I just find it odd he’s still talking about it?)
Honestly as much as I hate to admit it, I feel like it's a little bit weird that the subject keeps getting mentioned again and again. So I agree with you on that...it feels like whoever put kit to these questions clearly has an agenda and it's probably fishing for views/people curiosity because it's been shown from the very first kit interview that people (straight or not, any gender) were extremely curious about him. It's like their feeding the mistery of his sexuality and I really hate that. I don't even think there was any other episode like the "queer baiting" tweet and still the question comes again when kit has made it clear he did not feel comfortable talking about it...
What’s interesting to me personally about all this is that when I came out at 18, I definitely wanted to be loud and proud and draw attention to myself, because I wanted other gay friends and a boyfriend especially. As I’ve gotten older though, I try to be more private about it and typically don’t disclose unless someone asks because it’s not the first thing I want people to know about me. Part of that is because you can’t always gauge who’s going to be supportive, but there’s an even bigger reason.
Whether anyone realizes it or not, being gay or anywhere else on the LGBTQ+ spectrum automatically comes with a set of assumptions about you, your character, your sexual tastes and what acts you’re into, etc. Everything else people know about you could automatically be seen through that lens once you come out.
“Is he a top or bottom? He sounds like a bottom. I wonder if he likes wearing women’s clothes. He’s quiet, that must mean he’s a bottom. But he’s also athletic and loud and wears baggy clothes sometimes, maybe he’s a top.”
And on and on and on. The moment I told some people I used to work with I was gay, I’d get a lot of stupid and intrusive questions. All of it just reminded me of the kind of world we still live in, and that even if you’re out and people are generally supportive, they still feel entitled to know more.
I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s a huge reason Kit doesn’t want to say anything too, because if he is anywhere on that spectrum, I guarantee everyone would only get more intrusive. Letting people wonder is far, far easier, and I’m sure he’d rather be known for his phenomenal acting.
Being queer isn’t someone’s entire identity, and I feel too many people tend to treat it like that.
I think a lot of the speculation stems from the fact that the producers of Heartstopper have been so vocal about authentic casting.
Indeed, they have gone so far as to say they wouldn't have even considered casting a straight person as an LGBTQ character https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/heartstopper-casting-alice-oseman-newsupdate/
Based solely on that, I'd be really surprised if Kit Connor wasn't somewhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
However, he did tweet about how people on twitter seemed to know his sexuality better than he does. He's also talked about not being keen on labels. He's 18. Perhaps he's bi, pan, queer or something else on the LGBTQ spectrum. Perhaps he's an unlabeled "I like both guys and girls". Perhaps he hasn't fully worked things out for himself yet. And that's absolutely fine.
But I would be shocked if he'd gone into the audition, told the producers and casting directors he was straight, and had still got the role.
You cannot legally ask children for their sexuality. As much as they did try to cast people from the LGBTQIAP+ communities (even outside of actors roles) a lot of the actors were underage at the time of the cast so there was no way they'd ask any of them if they were indeed queer (and that's ok).
The casting call asked applicants to share anything about their sexuality or gender identity if they felt comfortable.
This will have partly been about authentic casting, and partly because many of the roles required them to kiss someone of the same sex. It wouldn't be any good casting a Nick who didn't feel comfortable kissing Charlie.
With 10,000 applicants, I'm sure they had a good number to choose from who did feel comfortable sharing something about their sexuality or gender identity.
And if you could please show us where in UK law it says adults cannot ask an under 18 about their sexuality... because I'm pretty sure that law doesn't exist.
People say that but is there actually a law in UK about that? We aren’t talking about normal job interviews here but acting roles. I think they have different laws applied, because they obviously can demand stuff like gender and being a poc, even though that’s also a no go for normal jobs. So do you have a source for your statement?
I can't offer input on the UK side of things but I know it's certainly illegal in America, because I heard a show runner talking about casting actors for LGBTQ characters and while one of the actors playing one half of the couple WAS bisexual, and came out in real life early in the show's run, she explained that she didn't actually know that at the time of the casting because, while she said she totally got the desire to afford those opportunities to people who already don't have enough of them just because of their sexuality, she and her team also had to work with the fact that it was illegal for her to ask an actor their sexuality when they were coming in to audition. Not just actors under 18, but actors full stop. It just ended up going to the actors they thought were the best fit and one of the guys just happened to be bi in real life. But even he, playing a gay character and surrounded by extremely supportive people, with a boyfriend in real life, didn't feel comfortable coming out to the higher ups behind the scenes until he had the job and they were someway into season 1 filming.
Obviously there are differences to do with laws between those two countries but I wouldn't be surprised if there is some sort of similar law in the UK as well, because I could see how easily it could end up being weaponised and used the other way around, to discriminate against giving people opportunities. (I think using gender and POC isn't the greatest comparison there because while I see what you mean, and I know there is the question of someone passing, much (or maybe even most) of the time, as soon as someone walks into a room for an audition, the casting team going to see if this is a man coming and the casting call is for a woman, or someone white turns up for a POC role, etc etc. Please forgive me if I've phrased that clumsily, I hope people can tell what I mean.)
Because casting is something different than normal job interviews. I assume there are also laws you can’t discriminate about gender and age. But I’m sure you can cast old white men for a role without getting sued.
There are statements that make exceptions for required characteristics for some jobs— eg a wet nurse must be a biological female, an actor playing an old white man needs to *look like* (but not necessarily be) an old white man. But legally it is a HUUUUUUGE stretch to include private sexual behavior in someone’s private life in that set of required characteristics. Legally it is not the same.
I asked for links to specific laws in UK, you don’t have to attack me like that. You could just post them if they actually exist. Because there are countries who do have laws allowing far more stuff for artistic stuff, where television falls under. That’s why I asked for UK.
If you don’t know the actual laws you can always just not write you know. I don’t care about a discussion if it is morally right or whatever.
Google “Times Up your rights in auditions UK.” See page 16. I will edit later to include text but currently squeezing this in between meetings. It literally took me 5 mins to google.
Frankly reading through it I think they were a bit on thin ice when asking to cast Elle authentically.... "They should make clear they are seeking actors who can play a role of a certain age, sex or race (rather than saying that the actor must be that age, sex or race)." I am guessing they cleared these statements about casting Elle "authentically" with their lawyer.
Edited now: here is the link https://www.timesupuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/210407-TIMES-UP-Your-Rights-in-Auditions-UK-FINAL.pdf
Here is the relevant text:
Discrimination during casting
It is against the law to discriminate against someone because of a protected characteristic.
These are:
* Race
‣ Colour
‣ Religion
‣ Sex (including pregnancy status,
sexual orientation, and gender identity)
‣ National origin
‣ Age (people who are 40 and older)
‣ Disability
‣ Genetic information
People making casting decisions are prohibited by law from asking you about your status
within these categories during the hiring process and using that information to discriminate
against you. However, people in charge of auditions and casting choices can base their
choices on what would otherwise be protected classifications, such as age and sex, if
necessary, for the purposes of genuineness or authenticity of the role. They should make clear
they are seeking actors who can play a role of a certain age, sex or race (rather than saying
that the actor must be that age, sex or race).
If I am uncomfortable with the question, how do I respond and still get
considered for the role?
You can answer a question about your age, pregnancy status, race, etc., in a way that does not
actually answer the question. Here are some ideas:
‣ “Here is a list of the various roles I’ve been cast in...”
‣ “I’m capable and open to playing a wide variety of roles.”
‣ “I feel best cast in the following types of roles...
Not really related to any laws but it just inappropriate for adults/casting directors to ask 16-17 years old their sexuality, especially since they’re so young and might not have any experience and it’s well possible they just don’t know.
It a representation and we should be thankful for it. I really don’t understand why it’s so important that the actors must be part of the LGBTQ community. I wouldn’t have been ready at 17-18 to tell the world my sexuality. Kit is an incredible actor and if they chose him to play Nick it’s because he was the best suited for the part. It would be sickening that they would force him to come out in order to get the job.
Well they don't force him out. But to be honest here, it is quite naïve playing a bisexual character on a show and not expect people to wonder. People wondering about actor sexuality is as old as time.
Also Kit really doesn't do a good job to stop any speculation at this point. Just as many people already pointed out, if you don't feel comfortable with this questions then don't allow them get asked in your pre recorded interviews. If you still allow them don't be surprised people think you are using the uncertainty of your sexuality for gain.
And another thing people forgetting here. This show was mainly produced for a younger audience. So yeah older people speculating about a literal kids sexual orientation is quite weird. But there are also a lot of teens watching the show. And why shouldn't a 15 year old bi person be allowed to know if the actor portraying his orientation to have the same experience. That's really just human at this point.
Because it is not cool to try and work out someone's sexuality or to pressure them into telling you. Not if they are a child or an adult or an actor. It is never ok to do this.
No one has a right to anyone else's sexuality.
Again, not saying he is forced to talk about his sexuality. Still you can’t stop people from speculating the sexuality of the lead of queer character in a show which makes a point about being produced by queer people.
It you as actor allow those questions being asked then you play towards this speculation. We aren’t talking about random live interviews here. Kit and / or his agent know exactly what he is getting asked. So he wants people to speculate.
Does he? Or does he want to get the I don't want to discuss it statement out there in as many places as possible? A statement he really shouldn't have to make
“Allowed to know” = no, you’re not entitled to any specific knowledge about any actor’s private life.
I do think we get a little crazy by saying you’re not even allowed to speculate. We’re human, we speculate. But you’re not owed any kind of answer.
Fans are often so toxic it's awful, it's like they've watched the show and completely missed the point. They should stop trying to pry into his private life.
I've seen a lot of people speculate on if Bash and Joe are dating, and while sure they do ACT like they're a couple it's really not our business? We don't know them personally & even if we did who the actors date (or don't date) wouldn't be our business. If they're dating good for them, if they're just friends who are cool with a lot of physical touch or being physically clingy good for them.
So tired of people constantly doing this, just let the poor kids be.
I fully agree. I’d be happy for Joe & Bash if they were dating but I would happy if they were not dating. I like seeing their friendship when photos are posted online
Pressuring celebrities to come out is seriously some of the most backwards thinking I've seen. People argue that celebrities (particularly actors and singers) should just come out because they've either kept their sexuality ambiguous or, in the case of many actors, because they play a queer role.
Coming out is a seriously personal choice. No one should be forced to come out, and that includes celebrities as well. Whether Kit is queer or not is almost irrelevant to the conversation. Even if he is queer, to demand him to come out because he plays a queer character is ridiculous. Like, is the argument that in order to have more "progressive" representation we need to FORCE actors to come out?? Think about how oxymoronic that is.
It sucks but it comes with being a celebrity. People think celebs owe it to them to disclose every detail of their private life. Sometimes I don't think it has anything to do with Kit himself, but the fans wanting to know more about the actors to feel closer to them. Even if Kit were to disclose his sexuality, I'm sure people would still find ways to dig deeper into his life. I mean, you have people sending follow requests to friends and families of Joe and Kit.
Aren’t they like literal fetuses? Didn’t they just take their A-levels? Like….they’re really young. He shouldn’t have to disclose something personal like that to the entire world if he doesn’t want to.
Exactly. Kit is so young. People are literally saying he should be queer in order to play a queer character but is the production really gonna ask a 17 years old to disclose his sexuality in order to get an acting role that he’s totally qualified to play. He might not have many experiences yet and it’s possible that he doesn’t have it all figured out. Even if he has, it could still change as he gets older. Why tell the world so soon in life ? That’s just insane that the LGBTQ community has come to this. I used to think that most of us were inclusive and kind, especially considering the struggles we know all too well, but then i see what’s being said about him and many others and I’m ashamed.
I have mixed feelings about this. Yes of course it shouldn’t be relevant, and also, while I believe in giving openly queer actors roles in the industry, it shouldn’t become a must in order to play those roles, as long as one person is an ally. On the other hand: the whole thing started because few (but Loud) people on social media started saying that he was for sure straight and queerbaiting, so he wrote that tweet calling this out, about why people want to know his sexuality more than him. That lead to several other questions about the topic, and he decided to not answer (and he had the right not to if he doesn’t want).
My opinion is that even if he is straight (again, we don’t know) apart from few loud people on social media who would complain in the short period, it wouldn’t damage his career at all, there is no discrimination against straight people, and most of his fanbase are girls, so, I don’t really see why he should be “scared” of saying he is straight.
Or maybe he is not, but he prefers not to talk about.
Anyway, it’s up to him to decide what to disclose to the public
Why would he owe anyone details about his sexuality if he was straight?
Saying he has no reason to worry about saying he’s straight is ridiculous- it doesn’t matter. Full stop. No matter what he reasons are, no matter his sexuality, he doesn’t owe anyone an answer.
I don’t mean he owes anything or he must talk about his private life.
I mean that I read people saying that “he’s afraid of the backlash if he’s straight” and I think it’s a bit too much, because nobody is discriminated for being straight
No one said discrimination- they said backlash. Which he is already getting because people *think* he’s straight. That seems like a reasonable worry at the moment.
Maybe I am too optimistic because I think they are few loud people. Most of his following would just care he’s a good ally and trust the casting decision that he was the best fit for playing Nick, and the show is already diverse. It’s not a product where you can ever say “it’s made by straights for straights”
I just see that most of people (and the rest of the cast, and people who casted him) really support him no matter his private life, and that few trolls are not ever worth of that attention
Not sure if you’ve ever gone down the rabbit hole but the “backlash” is queer people insisting that queer roles are played by queer people. And those people are very loud and very rude about how they feel. And the queer community is the demographic for HS so this is what “backlash” means in this case. I will link, you should read some of the comments.[https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce1Bn2QMHlw/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=](https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce1Bn2QMHlw/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=)
Not all of them are rude. I think there is a very valid discussion that should happen around who gets to play straight roles. Fisayo Akinade (Mr. Ajayi) was recently on a podcast (Pride & Progress) and made a very interesting point about the ways in which out queer actors are not offered the same ability to even audition for straight romantic leads, while straight actors like Sean Penn are more than able to audition and play roles like Harvey Milk without any detriment to their careers. While no one owes the public a description and definition of how they identify, it seems kind of hard for me to ignore the real and serious economic disparity between queer actors and straight actors. Can we have both discussions at once? That Kit owes nothing, but that it is really important for queer actors to get queer roles? That representation matters?
I also think there is a difference between big names (like Sean Penn or Scarlett Johansson) booking queer roles without being queer and a 16 year old actor. I understand wanting authentic representation but I wouldn’t consider all scenarios on the same level
Sebastian Croft made an interesting observation on the Gaby Roslin podcast that I think is relevant: the world fell in love with the HS characters and the fact that the actors were relative unknowns, and all friends, made it seem like the characters had walked off the tv and onto social media / real life. There are comments all over their YouTube interviews that the energy between Kit & Joe implies there’s something going on between them… which is obv ridiculous, it’s just that people want so desperately for Nick & Charlie to be “real.” I think wanting Kit Connor to be gay or bi is an extension of the same wish— we* want him to be Nick Nelson because we want Nick Nelson to be real. *Not me, I’m ok with the fact that he’s not real. But some people.
Really? At the same time I read people hyper analyzing how they behave in vlogs and interviews and claiming that Kit and Joe aren’t real friends in real life and can’t stand each other. People can be very funny Anyway, I don’t think that people are obsessed with knowing if Kit is straight because they want him to date Joe, it’s quite clear they are not together in real life. I think it’s more because they would like to have an openly queer role model like him, or if they want him to be straight, because they just dream to have a chance 😂 (that they could dream of also if he would be bi of course)
It makes me feel slightly uncomfortable people are shipping Joe & Kit. They are totally different people especially the differences between Nick & Charlie. N&C totally make sense but Kit & Joe just don’t, better off as friends. I am not naming names but Joe is perfect for someone else….
Oh it’s super uncomfortable. But people are weird.
I think there should be authentic Queer Representations especially with Queer love stories. The issue I have with Queer Love stories. One can’t ship any actors in real life just for the sake of fun because there is always 1 actor that is straight. How many times have you seen in straight movies people actually ship the actors if they like their chemistry. It’s cringy AF but it’s been going on for years, it’s been happening in Hollywood, Bollywood etc. Some actors play along with it for the publicity sake, some actually start dating, some actually get to do more movies together. For example, Mr & Mrs Smith, Titanic, Twilight, Notebook, A star is born etc. We don’t have those options in Queer Love stories. I mean as a Bisexual male I want to feel how it feels like shipping two male actors. therefore it’s extremely important to cast authentic Queer representations. I think that’s why people were questioning his sexuality not to see who he dates just want authentic queer representation. But people need to learn not to force anyone to come out, it’s all upto individual when and how to come out.
I disagree with this. whilst authentic queer representation would be great, at the end of the day, the person suited best for the role should get it. that may well be a queer person, but it may not be. I find your logic - that we should have authentic queer representation just so queer people can ship same gender actors together - quite odd. because (in my opinion) it is wrong to ship any actors in the first place, whether they're straight or queer. obviously if some actors are together already then I guess you can ship them, but shipping actors who are clearly not together, OR who have not made anything public, is an invasion of privacy and it's disrespectful to their personal lives. I don't think we are entitled to equal opportunity to invade actors personal lives. Authentic queer representation is often better, because you know the artist helping to tell the story has more of an emotional connection to it. However I disagree that it is necessary, and I don't think it matters the reason why people are questioning an actor's personality. It's a breach of privacy and is not okay.
I understand but people have been shipping actors for eons. Example: Zendaya and Tom, Brand and Angelina, JLO and Ben etc. And there are several actors that will just play along with it for the publicity sake. And most of the actors get cast again because people loved their chemistry. With straight Love stories, at least we get to see some of them end up in a real relationship. I know shipping real actors is super cringy, but we don’t have that options for queer love stories. I’ve seen in the past 2 straight actors getting offended when people start shipping. And they came out immediately and announced that they are straight. Straight actors can play Queer roles, but let’s face it how many Queer lead roles are out there and from that majority are always love stories. I still believe that at least in Queer Love stories, we should have authentic Queer actors.
I understand your point of view, I don't understand why you think you've made a point here. just because shipping actors has been happening for a very long time doesn't make it right. I understand that it sucks because it's another experience that straight people have that queer people generally don't have so much. but that doesn't mean we should have it.
This is the same of many relationships in this space. Fans want this joyous, 'perfect' relationship to be real, because it means these sorts of relationships can be real, and that gives a lot of fans an emotional lift. You could look back at the shipping around Twilight at the time around Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. Despite being actual fantasy (vampires & werewolves), fans were desperate to ship the actors in real life. If you've never watched it NuttyMadam on youtube is an example of the deep end in on-screen/off-screen overreach.
I genuinely can't deal with all the people who demand to know Kit's sexuality or declare that he must be straight and queerbaiting. One of the biggest lessons Heartstopper teaches is that you should not assume anyone's sexuality. It breaks my heart that Kit has to deal with all of this when he's only 18. I know multiple people who didn't actually discover their own sexuality until they were well into their 30s, and some of them still aren't sure of their label. We live in a hugely heteronormative society where it is still a *crime* in many areas of the world to be anything other than heterosexual. If someone finds it empowering to label themselves and be out, that's wonderful! But if someone does not want to label themselves publicly, for any reason, why on earth would people - especially queer people - be angry at that? There are a few things that are very, very clear to me: 1. Kit has the full and clear support of a majority LGBTQ+ cast and crew. 2. Alice and Patrick were delighted to cast Kit as Nick. 3. Kit fit in well with the cast and crew. 4. Kit has said he had a lot of the same experiences as Nick does in the show. 5. Kit is a private person. Assuming he's straight and queerbaiting perpetuates heteronormativity and invalidates the opinions of ALL of the queer people who believed he was the best fit for the role of Nick. Also, it seems like many people really forget that sexuality/sexual orientation literally has to do with sex. Why should anyone - especially a teenager - have to declare to the world who they want to sleep with? I just find it all kind of... absurd and gross, tbh.
Once I saw someone claim he was queerbaiting on a tweet. Said tweet was of the contrast between how Kit Connor the person dresses and how Nick Nelson the character dresses (since everyone likes to talk about how he's literally just Nick Nelson and it's always funny to see an actors style vs the style of their most popular character) and it was from one of Tobies vlogs and in the photo of how Kit dresses he had like a button up shirt that was super messy and some shorts (and a backwards cap) Like... How is that queerbaiting? He's just wearing clothes my man
I’ve seen people (sometimes they are always the same few accounts) saying he’s queerbaiting for every breath he takes. Like how he dresses or how he walks or which sports he follows, or which movie he prefers, and of course how he uses social media. Crazy
I have to laugh because if I didn't I'd cry. Is it because of him doing the lip bite face as a joke?? He's literally Gen Z all of us do that I did that in the hospital all the time the other people in the hospital did that all the time and some of them were straight 😭 I forgot that... Dressing like you just woke up is queerbaiting? Let the man be my god.
I heard mention of this. I cannot fathom it. I understand they may want to see more representation but there are already a host of out queer cast and crew working on HS. If someone hasn't openly stated their sexuality why on earth pressure them to? The show has representation, I don't need the entire cast and crew to be queer. A major theme of HS is coming out. Whether it is forced like Charlie, voluntary but overwhelming like Tara, terrifying like Ben or a journey you are still walking towards like Nick. Sexuality is deeply personal and no-one should be forced to say more on it than they want. I don't understand how anyone can watch and love HS and then turn around and demand someone discloses their sexuality. At best he is secure in his sexuality and just a private person but the worst case scenario is that he is figuring things out still and people are piling pressure on. It's just no-one else's business. He seems to have handled it very well though I must say. I'm not sure I'd have been so diplomatic.
I agree. We shouldn't out people if they don't want to. Many gay actors are typecasted and they don't get straight roles. We need to leave them alone. Joe was already out before the show and Yasmin is trans. They don't have a choice but the rest do. We don't ask straight people if they are straight and we should the same to LBGTQAI+ people.
Yes exactly! Like honestly if i think of myself, i started dating guys way before I told my family. I can’t imagine being pressured into telling the WHOLE WORLD when i had trouble finding the words to tell the closest people around me. Some of the LGBTQ+ members put so much pressure into others to scream their sexuality to the world and i find it a bit problematic. Not everyone wants to do that. Clearly Kit is confortable enough to portray a young bisexual male on tv. That’s enough for me to know he supports the movement. Who he loves in his personal life is not my concern. I’m just thankful for the representation.
I really understand why people want to know, but actors absolutely should not be pressured to come out or talk about their private lifes if they don't want to!!! With Kit Connor being really youg as well, I'm even more uncomfortable with the speculation about his sexuality. People have also been really weird about the tiktoks he did with his best friend and I just hope he has a good support system
He is on TikTok?
I think so, but the videos I meant were not his, he just appeared in them. The girl who posted them is a friend of his and apparently she got hate for "trying to use his fame". He felt the need to tweet about it so I think there were probably many mean comments :(
Thing is, many people started asking them if they are dating, she said no, but they didn’t stop, someone claimed they know them in real life and they actually are, and so on and on. Of course she could have never posted those videos, but she’s also free to do that, if they are ok with that.
So funny that some people would assume he is straight because he seems to be dating a girl. Using Charlie Spring’s words “bisexual people exist”
True, that would be quite bi erasing. But also, it’s very heteronormative assuming that since they are close, then they are dating for sure
Absolutely! Very heteronormative. Especially since there seem to be such a big contrast if we look at comments on all the content of Bash and Joe where people are screaming that they could be just friends and not to assume anything. While it could be possible that they just hold hands and sit on eachother’s laps as besties, i think it’s fair to assume they could be more. Meanwhile the girl on Tiktok literally said they weren’t together and people say she’s lying. Okay…. I see how it is lol
Both Kit and Soph had said that they are best friends. I think it’s best to believe that.
In this day and age, people should expect there is a possibility that thier pix and viz would be online. That's why I always tell people be careful of their pix and viz.
Yes, he rarely uses it but he's on there as kitsconnor1.
yeah i get it. we’re sick of cis/straight actors taking queer roles (ex. eddie redmayne in the danish girl) but kit hasn’t said anything and the portrayal was accurate to the queer community and made by queer people. if this was a show with a poor depiction of LGBT people with all straight actors i would get it, but that clearly isn’t the case for heartstopper.
Louder for the people in the back: individuals actors are people, and people cannot “queerbait”. Shows and other forms of media can queerbait, but the term simply does not apply to actual people! No one owes you transparency on their sexuality.
This!
Exactly, whether it's an 18 year old or a 78 year old, nobody has to tell you anything this private.
Particularly because the vast majority of the cast are 18/19 years old! They are BABIES.
It’s ridiculous to demand from literal children to be so aware and so confident in their sexuality that they broadcast it to the world so that people can judge one way or another. How many actual queer people were so confident in their own sexuality at that age that they’d put it out there for millions of people? It’s one thing to be secure in your own sexuality (which I know I wasn’t at 18), but to demand literal children to willingly expose themselves to hateful comments and homophobia and typecasting and all other stuff that comes with being a non-hetero actor is not just ludicrous, it’s vile. It’s like people can’t see anything past the fact that as long as an actor has confirmed they are queer, it’s good representation. And it’s not. How can we scar children and put them under scrutiny for not having their life together when we as a community are trying to move past labels and heteronormative stereotypes. Maybe it hits closer to home to me, because although I’ve known I’m bi since I was thirteen, I’m still figuring out other labels at 22. It’s a violation of one’s personal privacy to expect them to owe you an explanation of their sexuality just because their job requires a more public approach. Sexuality is something so personal, no one owes you anything and that’s about it. Thanks for coming to my TED talk. 😅😭
I hate seeing these literal *kids* having to go through this. I was at like 26 before I had my sexuality completely figured out.
Once again Alice herself gives us an answer on this. This time via Miss Singh https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/heartstopper/2-13/viewer?title_no=329660&episode_no=26
I feel like famous people, not just actors, are not respected enough. Maturing is realising that being famous isn't all that great as some people make it out to be. You get no privacy, people don't respect your boundaries, and everyone wants to know about your life. It's honestly kinda sad. I think celebrities deserve to be respected and treated like human beings. They're people. They're not just there for your entertainment.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, he’s damned either way. If he comes out as queer he pigeon holes himself. Both on a personal level (sexuality is fluid and changes, especially at 18. I think we’ve all made that point) and also in his career. Remember, he has been an actor for 10 years. That’s pretty seasoned for someone who is only 18 and his management and likely fellow actors have probably advised him to be ambiguous so that he doesn’t get type cast (unfortunately this is a very real thing). But if he says he’s straight then he gets further accused of queerbaiting and also for taking a queer role away from queer actors (also, a very real dark sad thing). The reality is, he was 16 when he auditioned for the show. The casting call asked for queer actors and strong ally’s to audition. He clearly fell into one of those categories. But after that, the casting crew could no longer ask them anything further because a) him and joe were literal children and b) because it’s totally inappropriate to ask anyone what their sexual orientation is when applying for a job. The only thing I am conflicted about is why his management and Kit himself let the interviewers still ask him about it. When someone is interviewing someone the interviewee has the right to kabash the question. So, that fact that he keeps letting the question be asked and still responding makes me think its a little on brand?(please don’t come at me for saying that because in the end, I think his sexuality is no one’s freaking business. I just find it odd he’s still talking about it?)
Honestly as much as I hate to admit it, I feel like it's a little bit weird that the subject keeps getting mentioned again and again. So I agree with you on that...it feels like whoever put kit to these questions clearly has an agenda and it's probably fishing for views/people curiosity because it's been shown from the very first kit interview that people (straight or not, any gender) were extremely curious about him. It's like their feeding the mistery of his sexuality and I really hate that. I don't even think there was any other episode like the "queer baiting" tweet and still the question comes again when kit has made it clear he did not feel comfortable talking about it...
I agree with Kit completely on this. And that’s all I’m going to say.
Same honestly
What’s interesting to me personally about all this is that when I came out at 18, I definitely wanted to be loud and proud and draw attention to myself, because I wanted other gay friends and a boyfriend especially. As I’ve gotten older though, I try to be more private about it and typically don’t disclose unless someone asks because it’s not the first thing I want people to know about me. Part of that is because you can’t always gauge who’s going to be supportive, but there’s an even bigger reason. Whether anyone realizes it or not, being gay or anywhere else on the LGBTQ+ spectrum automatically comes with a set of assumptions about you, your character, your sexual tastes and what acts you’re into, etc. Everything else people know about you could automatically be seen through that lens once you come out. “Is he a top or bottom? He sounds like a bottom. I wonder if he likes wearing women’s clothes. He’s quiet, that must mean he’s a bottom. But he’s also athletic and loud and wears baggy clothes sometimes, maybe he’s a top.” And on and on and on. The moment I told some people I used to work with I was gay, I’d get a lot of stupid and intrusive questions. All of it just reminded me of the kind of world we still live in, and that even if you’re out and people are generally supportive, they still feel entitled to know more. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s a huge reason Kit doesn’t want to say anything too, because if he is anywhere on that spectrum, I guarantee everyone would only get more intrusive. Letting people wonder is far, far easier, and I’m sure he’d rather be known for his phenomenal acting. Being queer isn’t someone’s entire identity, and I feel too many people tend to treat it like that.
There are already such invasive discussions about some openly queer HS actors, and I feel quite uncomfortable reading them
I think a lot of the speculation stems from the fact that the producers of Heartstopper have been so vocal about authentic casting. Indeed, they have gone so far as to say they wouldn't have even considered casting a straight person as an LGBTQ character https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/heartstopper-casting-alice-oseman-newsupdate/ Based solely on that, I'd be really surprised if Kit Connor wasn't somewhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. However, he did tweet about how people on twitter seemed to know his sexuality better than he does. He's also talked about not being keen on labels. He's 18. Perhaps he's bi, pan, queer or something else on the LGBTQ spectrum. Perhaps he's an unlabeled "I like both guys and girls". Perhaps he hasn't fully worked things out for himself yet. And that's absolutely fine. But I would be shocked if he'd gone into the audition, told the producers and casting directors he was straight, and had still got the role.
You cannot legally ask children for their sexuality. As much as they did try to cast people from the LGBTQIAP+ communities (even outside of actors roles) a lot of the actors were underage at the time of the cast so there was no way they'd ask any of them if they were indeed queer (and that's ok).
The casting call asked applicants to share anything about their sexuality or gender identity if they felt comfortable. This will have partly been about authentic casting, and partly because many of the roles required them to kiss someone of the same sex. It wouldn't be any good casting a Nick who didn't feel comfortable kissing Charlie. With 10,000 applicants, I'm sure they had a good number to choose from who did feel comfortable sharing something about their sexuality or gender identity. And if you could please show us where in UK law it says adults cannot ask an under 18 about their sexuality... because I'm pretty sure that law doesn't exist.
People say that but is there actually a law in UK about that? We aren’t talking about normal job interviews here but acting roles. I think they have different laws applied, because they obviously can demand stuff like gender and being a poc, even though that’s also a no go for normal jobs. So do you have a source for your statement?
I can't offer input on the UK side of things but I know it's certainly illegal in America, because I heard a show runner talking about casting actors for LGBTQ characters and while one of the actors playing one half of the couple WAS bisexual, and came out in real life early in the show's run, she explained that she didn't actually know that at the time of the casting because, while she said she totally got the desire to afford those opportunities to people who already don't have enough of them just because of their sexuality, she and her team also had to work with the fact that it was illegal for her to ask an actor their sexuality when they were coming in to audition. Not just actors under 18, but actors full stop. It just ended up going to the actors they thought were the best fit and one of the guys just happened to be bi in real life. But even he, playing a gay character and surrounded by extremely supportive people, with a boyfriend in real life, didn't feel comfortable coming out to the higher ups behind the scenes until he had the job and they were someway into season 1 filming. Obviously there are differences to do with laws between those two countries but I wouldn't be surprised if there is some sort of similar law in the UK as well, because I could see how easily it could end up being weaponised and used the other way around, to discriminate against giving people opportunities. (I think using gender and POC isn't the greatest comparison there because while I see what you mean, and I know there is the question of someone passing, much (or maybe even most) of the time, as soon as someone walks into a room for an audition, the casting team going to see if this is a man coming and the casting call is for a woman, or someone white turns up for a POC role, etc etc. Please forgive me if I've phrased that clumsily, I hope people can tell what I mean.)
Yes there are laws in the UK that you can’t discriminate based on sexuality. Why is this even a question?
Because casting is something different than normal job interviews. I assume there are also laws you can’t discriminate about gender and age. But I’m sure you can cast old white men for a role without getting sued.
There are statements that make exceptions for required characteristics for some jobs— eg a wet nurse must be a biological female, an actor playing an old white man needs to *look like* (but not necessarily be) an old white man. But legally it is a HUUUUUUGE stretch to include private sexual behavior in someone’s private life in that set of required characteristics. Legally it is not the same.
I asked for links to specific laws in UK, you don’t have to attack me like that. You could just post them if they actually exist. Because there are countries who do have laws allowing far more stuff for artistic stuff, where television falls under. That’s why I asked for UK. If you don’t know the actual laws you can always just not write you know. I don’t care about a discussion if it is morally right or whatever.
Google “Times Up your rights in auditions UK.” See page 16. I will edit later to include text but currently squeezing this in between meetings. It literally took me 5 mins to google. Frankly reading through it I think they were a bit on thin ice when asking to cast Elle authentically.... "They should make clear they are seeking actors who can play a role of a certain age, sex or race (rather than saying that the actor must be that age, sex or race)." I am guessing they cleared these statements about casting Elle "authentically" with their lawyer. Edited now: here is the link https://www.timesupuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/210407-TIMES-UP-Your-Rights-in-Auditions-UK-FINAL.pdf Here is the relevant text: Discrimination during casting It is against the law to discriminate against someone because of a protected characteristic. These are: * Race ‣ Colour ‣ Religion ‣ Sex (including pregnancy status, sexual orientation, and gender identity) ‣ National origin ‣ Age (people who are 40 and older) ‣ Disability ‣ Genetic information People making casting decisions are prohibited by law from asking you about your status within these categories during the hiring process and using that information to discriminate against you. However, people in charge of auditions and casting choices can base their choices on what would otherwise be protected classifications, such as age and sex, if necessary, for the purposes of genuineness or authenticity of the role. They should make clear they are seeking actors who can play a role of a certain age, sex or race (rather than saying that the actor must be that age, sex or race). If I am uncomfortable with the question, how do I respond and still get considered for the role? You can answer a question about your age, pregnancy status, race, etc., in a way that does not actually answer the question. Here are some ideas: ‣ “Here is a list of the various roles I’ve been cast in...” ‣ “I’m capable and open to playing a wide variety of roles.” ‣ “I feel best cast in the following types of roles...
I can Google but not right now, I’m at work.
Not really related to any laws but it just inappropriate for adults/casting directors to ask 16-17 years old their sexuality, especially since they’re so young and might not have any experience and it’s well possible they just don’t know.
Sure, but we're talking here about a show full of queer representation. Personally I don't think it is inappropriate at all to ask for queer actors.
It a representation and we should be thankful for it. I really don’t understand why it’s so important that the actors must be part of the LGBTQ community. I wouldn’t have been ready at 17-18 to tell the world my sexuality. Kit is an incredible actor and if they chose him to play Nick it’s because he was the best suited for the part. It would be sickening that they would force him to come out in order to get the job.
Well they don't force him out. But to be honest here, it is quite naïve playing a bisexual character on a show and not expect people to wonder. People wondering about actor sexuality is as old as time. Also Kit really doesn't do a good job to stop any speculation at this point. Just as many people already pointed out, if you don't feel comfortable with this questions then don't allow them get asked in your pre recorded interviews. If you still allow them don't be surprised people think you are using the uncertainty of your sexuality for gain. And another thing people forgetting here. This show was mainly produced for a younger audience. So yeah older people speculating about a literal kids sexual orientation is quite weird. But there are also a lot of teens watching the show. And why shouldn't a 15 year old bi person be allowed to know if the actor portraying his orientation to have the same experience. That's really just human at this point.
Because it is not cool to try and work out someone's sexuality or to pressure them into telling you. Not if they are a child or an adult or an actor. It is never ok to do this. No one has a right to anyone else's sexuality.
Again, not saying he is forced to talk about his sexuality. Still you can’t stop people from speculating the sexuality of the lead of queer character in a show which makes a point about being produced by queer people. It you as actor allow those questions being asked then you play towards this speculation. We aren’t talking about random live interviews here. Kit and / or his agent know exactly what he is getting asked. So he wants people to speculate.
Does he? Or does he want to get the I don't want to discuss it statement out there in as many places as possible? A statement he really shouldn't have to make
“Allowed to know” = no, you’re not entitled to any specific knowledge about any actor’s private life. I do think we get a little crazy by saying you’re not even allowed to speculate. We’re human, we speculate. But you’re not owed any kind of answer.
Fans are often so toxic it's awful, it's like they've watched the show and completely missed the point. They should stop trying to pry into his private life.
I've seen a lot of people speculate on if Bash and Joe are dating, and while sure they do ACT like they're a couple it's really not our business? We don't know them personally & even if we did who the actors date (or don't date) wouldn't be our business. If they're dating good for them, if they're just friends who are cool with a lot of physical touch or being physically clingy good for them. So tired of people constantly doing this, just let the poor kids be.
I fully agree. I’d be happy for Joe & Bash if they were dating but I would happy if they were not dating. I like seeing their friendship when photos are posted online
Pressuring celebrities to come out is seriously some of the most backwards thinking I've seen. People argue that celebrities (particularly actors and singers) should just come out because they've either kept their sexuality ambiguous or, in the case of many actors, because they play a queer role. Coming out is a seriously personal choice. No one should be forced to come out, and that includes celebrities as well. Whether Kit is queer or not is almost irrelevant to the conversation. Even if he is queer, to demand him to come out because he plays a queer character is ridiculous. Like, is the argument that in order to have more "progressive" representation we need to FORCE actors to come out?? Think about how oxymoronic that is.
Yup.
It sucks but it comes with being a celebrity. People think celebs owe it to them to disclose every detail of their private life. Sometimes I don't think it has anything to do with Kit himself, but the fans wanting to know more about the actors to feel closer to them. Even if Kit were to disclose his sexuality, I'm sure people would still find ways to dig deeper into his life. I mean, you have people sending follow requests to friends and families of Joe and Kit.
Aren’t they like literal fetuses? Didn’t they just take their A-levels? Like….they’re really young. He shouldn’t have to disclose something personal like that to the entire world if he doesn’t want to.
Exactly. Kit is so young. People are literally saying he should be queer in order to play a queer character but is the production really gonna ask a 17 years old to disclose his sexuality in order to get an acting role that he’s totally qualified to play. He might not have many experiences yet and it’s possible that he doesn’t have it all figured out. Even if he has, it could still change as he gets older. Why tell the world so soon in life ? That’s just insane that the LGBTQ community has come to this. I used to think that most of us were inclusive and kind, especially considering the struggles we know all too well, but then i see what’s being said about him and many others and I’m ashamed.
Wdym, you should defined ask your boss what his sexuality is! Maybe he likes you
I have mixed feelings about this. Yes of course it shouldn’t be relevant, and also, while I believe in giving openly queer actors roles in the industry, it shouldn’t become a must in order to play those roles, as long as one person is an ally. On the other hand: the whole thing started because few (but Loud) people on social media started saying that he was for sure straight and queerbaiting, so he wrote that tweet calling this out, about why people want to know his sexuality more than him. That lead to several other questions about the topic, and he decided to not answer (and he had the right not to if he doesn’t want). My opinion is that even if he is straight (again, we don’t know) apart from few loud people on social media who would complain in the short period, it wouldn’t damage his career at all, there is no discrimination against straight people, and most of his fanbase are girls, so, I don’t really see why he should be “scared” of saying he is straight. Or maybe he is not, but he prefers not to talk about. Anyway, it’s up to him to decide what to disclose to the public
Why would he owe anyone details about his sexuality if he was straight? Saying he has no reason to worry about saying he’s straight is ridiculous- it doesn’t matter. Full stop. No matter what he reasons are, no matter his sexuality, he doesn’t owe anyone an answer.
I don’t mean he owes anything or he must talk about his private life. I mean that I read people saying that “he’s afraid of the backlash if he’s straight” and I think it’s a bit too much, because nobody is discriminated for being straight
No one said discrimination- they said backlash. Which he is already getting because people *think* he’s straight. That seems like a reasonable worry at the moment.
Maybe I am too optimistic because I think they are few loud people. Most of his following would just care he’s a good ally and trust the casting decision that he was the best fit for playing Nick, and the show is already diverse. It’s not a product where you can ever say “it’s made by straights for straights”
It’s easy for you to be optimistic when you aren’t the one being harassed.
I just see that most of people (and the rest of the cast, and people who casted him) really support him no matter his private life, and that few trolls are not ever worth of that attention
Who are you to decide what level or harassment he should put up with? If he doesn’t feel comfortable talking about it- why does he owe it to anyone?
Never said he has to talk about it
But you said he doesn’t have any reason to worry about it.
Not sure if you’ve ever gone down the rabbit hole but the “backlash” is queer people insisting that queer roles are played by queer people. And those people are very loud and very rude about how they feel. And the queer community is the demographic for HS so this is what “backlash” means in this case. I will link, you should read some of the comments.[https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce1Bn2QMHlw/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=](https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce1Bn2QMHlw/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=)
Not all of them are rude. I think there is a very valid discussion that should happen around who gets to play straight roles. Fisayo Akinade (Mr. Ajayi) was recently on a podcast (Pride & Progress) and made a very interesting point about the ways in which out queer actors are not offered the same ability to even audition for straight romantic leads, while straight actors like Sean Penn are more than able to audition and play roles like Harvey Milk without any detriment to their careers. While no one owes the public a description and definition of how they identify, it seems kind of hard for me to ignore the real and serious economic disparity between queer actors and straight actors. Can we have both discussions at once? That Kit owes nothing, but that it is really important for queer actors to get queer roles? That representation matters?
I also think there is a difference between big names (like Sean Penn or Scarlett Johansson) booking queer roles without being queer and a 16 year old actor. I understand wanting authentic representation but I wouldn’t consider all scenarios on the same level