The 18-year-old actor took to Twitter on Halloween to reveal his sexuality, claiming that those demanding he reveal how he identified had “missed the point” of the Netflix show by making him do so.
How ‘Heartstopper’ Cast Are Supporting Kit Connor as He Comes Out as Bisexual
Connor portrays Nick Nelson in Heartstopper, which is based on Alice Oseman’s comic book series of the same name, and in it his character struggles with his identity when he begins to have feelings for classmate Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and later realizes and accepts that he is bisexual.
In his tweet, Connor wrote: “back for a minute. i’m bi. congrats for forcing an 18 year old to out himself. i think some of you missed the point of the show. bye”
Connor’s Heartstopper cast members, and Oseman herself, came to the actor’s defense and shared their support for him.
Replying to Connor’s tweet, Oseman said: “I truly don’t understand how people can watch Heartstopper and then gleefully spend their time speculating about sexualities and judging based on stereotypes. I hope all those people are embarrassed as F***. Kit you are amazing.”
Kizzy Edgell, who plays lesbian character Darcy Olsson in the show, said in her own tweet: “i love u kit im sorry this has been so disgustingly rough on you. been treated so unfairly. [sic]”
Sebastian Croft, who plays Charlie’s closeted former flame and later bully in Heartstopper, responded to his co-star’s tweet with the message: “Kit Connor, the world doesn’t deserve you. Love you my friend ❤️”
Rhea Norwood replied to Connor’s tweet with a heart emoji. The actor plays Imogen Heaney in Heartstopper, who is romantically interested in Nick, but becomes his friend when he reveals to her his feelings for Charlie.
Oseman previously spoke to Newsweek about the casting process for the show, explaining how important it was for her to cast Heartstopper “authentically,” with many of the actors identifying in the same way as their characters. Yasmin Finney, for example, plays transgender character Elle Argent, and Finney is also a trans woman.
“I think casting authentically was really important to us because it just gives the show so much realism, you know, whether that’s finding a trans actor to play Elle or finding actors who are around the right age,” Oseman told Newsweek in April.
“I think that it makes the show feel, I’ve already said it, but more real, it makes you believe in the story and believe what these characters are going through so much more than if it was actors who are 28.
“And for me, as well, it’s respect to the characters and respect to the readers of the comics as well, so that was really important to me and to everyone else who was involved in the casting process.
“We did a massive, open casting search for the main cast and somehow they just appeared, we found them, and I’m really, really glad that we took the risk and searched really hard to find these people rather than just kind of going with the first people who came along. Yeah, I feel very lucky that we found everyone.”
Heartstopper is out on Netflix now.
