Photo: John Phillips/Getty
Kit Connoris getting real about his sexuality.
In an interview withBritish Vogue, the 19-year-oldHeartstopperactor shared his initial reaction to feeling pressured to publicly come out as bisexual — and how he now feels about the experience.
“It was just a very natural process for me; I didn’t really have an ‘oh, s—’ moment. It just became more and more evident,” he explained.
Though his family was “super accepting and inclusive and wonderful,” he attended an all-boys school that was less understanding. “I was in a very heteronormative atmosphere,” he continued. “It wasn’t hugely inclusive. It wasn’t really accepted in a lot of ways.”
ROB YOUNGSON
Connor also recognized that there was a narrative around bisexual individuals. “It’s the experience of maybe you’re too straight to be gay and you’re too gay to be straight,” he said. “So it’s like, ‘Where do I sit?’ But I feel much more secure in myself now.”
“I think there’s almost a feeling that because I’d been in the industry for a little while, there was almost this understanding that it’s like, ‘Oh, well, he can take it,” he continued. “I think ‘forced’ isn’t the right word I would use, but I would say that I would have preferred to do it another way. I also don’t know if I would have ever done it. But at the end of the day, I don’t regret it. In many ways, it was really empowering.”
When Connor initially opened up about his sexuality on Twitter, hisHeartstoppercastmates spoke out in support of him.
Joe Locke, who plays Connor’s love interest Charlie on the series, praised his costar, saying, “You owe nothing to anyone. I’m so proud of you my friend.”
Showrunner Alice Olsen also chimed in with strong words for those who accused Connor of “queerbaiting,” which led to him coming out.
“I truly don’t understand how people can watch Heartstopper and then gleefully spend their time speculating about sexualities and judging based on stereotypes,” Oseman tweeted. “I hope all those people are embarrassed as F—. Kit you are amazing.”
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Heartstopperreturns to Netflix for season 2 on Aug. 3.
source: people.com
