One of the reasons Netflix's megahit "Heartstopper" is captivating to audiences all over the world is because it feels like a safe space instead of a typical TV show. Whether you are younger and still not out, newly out, or have been out for years, seeing the story of Nick Nelson (Kit Conner) and Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) unfold is like receiving a big bear hug of security. You would hope that the people who brought the story to the small screen would be afforded the same blanket of protection from homophobia as their characters, but many fans weren't able to make this a reality. With Locke being openly gay before starring on the show, the actor who received the majority of the pressure and harassment was Kit Connor, the bright-eyed, pretty-haired superstar playing Nick. (Though Locke, too, faced harassment). Connor was one of the only performers in "Heartstopper" who chose to keep his real-life sexuality private from the world, a choice that should have been respected. When Connor was seen holding hands with a female co-star offset of a new project he was working on, some people began to claim he wasn't worthy of being on "Heartstopper" anymore. The word "queerbaiting" started to be thrown around at the speed of a Randy Johnson fastball, intimidating the 18-year-old star until he came out as bisexual on Twitter on Halloween night.⁠ ⁠ Tap link in bio for more on @EDGEmedianetwork ⁠ ????

One of the reasons Netflix's megahit "Heartstopper" is captivating to audiences all over the world is because it feels like a safe space instead of a typical TV show. Whether you are younger and still not out, newly out, or have been out for years, seeing the story of Nick Nelson (Kit Conner) and Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) unfold is like receiving a big bear hug of security. You would hope that the people who brought the story to the small screen would be afforded the same blanket of protection from homophobia as their characters, but many fans weren't able to make this a reality. With Locke being openly gay before starring on the show, the actor who received the majority of the pressure and harassment was Kit Connor, the bright-eyed, pretty-haired superstar playing Nick. (Though Locke, too, faced harassment). Connor was one of the only performers in "Heartstopper" who chose to keep his real-life sexuality private from the world, a choice that should have been respected. When Connor was seen holding hands with a female co-star offset of a new project he was working on, some people began to claim he wasn't worthy of being on "Heartstopper" anymore. The word "queerbaiting" started to be thrown around at the speed of a Randy Johnson fastball, intimidating the 18-year-old star until he came out as bisexual on Twitter on Halloween night.⁠
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Tap link in bio for more on @EDGEmedianetwork ⁠
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