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Heatstopper's Alice Oseman On Fans Who Forced Kit Connor To Come Out
The creator isn’t holding back on the “fans” who pressured the young actor to publicly address his sexuality.
Heartstopper was one of the bright spots of last year. The series, which chronicles the love story between Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke), is one of the purest and sweetest queer coming-of-age stories we’ve ever seen.
Sadly, some in the audience seemed to miss the memo about letting people discover and share their sexuality on their terms. These “fans” seemingly forced Connor out of the closet before he was ready, by repeatedly accusing him of queerbaiting, particularly after he was seen holding hands with actor Maia Reficco.
The whole thing left Heartstopper author Alice Oseman “so angry.”
Oseman opened up — and did not hold back — during an interview with Attitude when the subject of Connor’s coming out came up.
“It made me so angry,” she recalled. “I care about this cast so deeply. I feel like a parent figure. What people were saying to him was so anti-Heartstopper,” she said. “How could you watch the show and then do that to him? Truly idiotic. Why would an 18-year-old know exactly who they are?”
This isn’t the first time Oseman has come to Connor’s defense with a fiery response. “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**k. Kit you are amazing,” she wrote on Twitter.
\u201c@kit_connor 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 FUCK. Kit you are amazing \ud83d\udc96\u201d— Alice Oseman Updates (@Alice Oseman Updates) 1667259308
On a happier note, Oseman is looking forward to season two, which she teases will broach the topic of asexuality. “Netflix will hate me for spilling, but yes, asexuality will be discussed on TV in a big way. I’m excited. I hope it’ll change the world,” she told the publication. “I hope when it happens in Heartstopper it doesn’t feel like a lesson. You know Isaac, you care about him, and now you’re going to learn something new about him.”
Oseman, who is asexual aromantic, is excited to show greater nuance for the often misunderstood identities. “No one is asking deep questions,” they continued. “It’s a complicated thing to understand about yourself. People are asking the wrong questions.”
Heartstopper season two is set to premiere on Netflix in 2023.
Rachel Shatto, Editor in Chief of PRIDE.com, is an SF Bay Area-based writer, podcaster, and former editor of Curve magazine, where she honed her passion for writing about social justice and sex (and their frequent intersection). Her work has appeared on Dread Central, Elite Daily, Tecca, and Joystiq. She's a GALECA member and she podcasts regularly about horror on the Zombie Grrlz Horror Podcast Network. She can’t live without cats, vintage style, video games, drag queens, or the Oxford comma.
Rachel Shatto, Editor in Chief of PRIDE.com, is an SF Bay Area-based writer, podcaster, and former editor of Curve magazine, where she honed her passion for writing about social justice and sex (and their frequent intersection). Her work has appeared on Dread Central, Elite Daily, Tecca, and Joystiq. She's a GALECA member and she podcasts regularly about horror on the Zombie Grrlz Horror Podcast Network. She can’t live without cats, vintage style, video games, drag queens, or the Oxford comma.
