Kit Connor

Los Angeles: 'Heartstopper' star Kit Connor came out as bisexual amid accusations of queerbaiting and slammed his critics for “forcing an 18 year old to out ...

“I don’t feel like I need to label myself, especially not publicly.” “I’m perfectly confident and comfortable in my sexuality, but… Los Angeles: ‘Heartstopper’ star Kit Connor came out as bisexual amid accusations of queerbaiting and slammed his critics for “forcing an 18 year old to out himself” in response to the hurtful allegations.

Kit Connor, the star of Netflix's Heartstopper, was accused of “queerbaiting” earlier this year and quit Twitter.

Microsoft Office Professional 2021 Lifetime License](https://stacksocial.com/sales/microsoft-office-professional-plus-2021-for-windows?aid=a-efnv1nsd&utm_source=theinventory.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=microsoft-office-professional-plus-2021-for-windows_102622&utm_term=scsf-558929) [two-season renewal from Netflix](https://www.avclub.com/heartstopper-netflix-renewed-two-more-seasons-1848954457) earlier this year. “We’re still all so young, and to start speculating about our sexualities and maybe pressuring us to come out when we’re not ready. Connor plays Nick Nelson in the British coming-of-age teen dramedy Heartstopper. “I truly don’t understand how people can watch Heartstopper and then gleefully spend their time speculating about sexualities and judging based on stereotypes,” “Back for a minute,” Connor tweeted.

Co-stars rally around the 18-year-old star after he revealed his sexuality on Twitter.

[Ranj Singh](https://twitter.com/DrRanj/status/1587356361091944448), who wrote: "I wish this tweet was never necessary. Kit you are amazing." "I feel like I'm perfectly confident and comfortable in my sexuality, but I don't feel the need to... [The English actor posted](https://twitter.com/kit_connor/status/1587218539236188160): "I'm bi. I'm not massive about that and I don't feel like I need to label myself, especially not publicly." Apparently some people on here know my sexuality better than I do..."

In this op-ed, writer K-Ci Williams explores Heartstopper star Kit Connor's recent tweet coming out as bisexual.

The word is most useful as criticism when applied to fictional characters in contemporary books, movies, and shows, and storylines that tease through subtext — as [writer Stitch explores in their Fan Service column](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/on-queerbaiting-betrayal-quest-for-better-representation-stitch-fan-service), “Queerbaiting isn’t representation, but it dangles representation above fans’ heads.” Kit Connor’s choice to remain unlabeled was not queerbaiting. When violations like this happen, it robs someone of the very little power they have as a queer person in an antiquated society, the agency to choose when and how they will come out. explores](https://www.them.us/story/what-is-queerbaiting), was popularized on 2010s Tumblr to describe a media ploy that hints at queerness with no follow-through to turn a profit from queer engagement. The fact that Kit Connor felt forced to come out is disgusting, and it speaks to so many rising issues rooted in online culture. The actor came out as bisexual via Twitter on October 31: “Back for a minute. In his mind, he was being supportive; in mine, he was increasing the turbulence I already felt about my sexuality and identity as a teen.

'RuPaul's Drag Race' star & more offer their support to the 18-year-old.

You have a lifetime ahead to live your truth and no one has the right to force you to “decide”. Go forward with love and you’ll never go wrong!” I’m so sorry you had this moment taken away from you Kit, but let’s hope people will learn from it! especially when Heartstopper taught so many people around the world the true value of someone’s personal coming out story,” Gunning wrote. “Kit Connor, the world doesn’t deserve you. been treated so unfairly.” The two boys begin to bond after being seated next to each other in class and eventually fall in love. Kit you are amazing 💖 “I hope all those people are embarrassed as F**K. back for a minute. congrats for forcing an 18 year old to out himself. “Back for a minute.

Kit Connor's "Heartstopper" co-stars shared their support for the actor after he publicly came out following criticism for portraying a bisexual character.

Yeah, I feel very lucky that we found everyone." [tweet](https://twitter.com/kit_connor/status/1587218539236188160), Connor wrote: "back for a minute. Love you my friend ❤️" Kit you are amazing." "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. been treated so unfairly.

The Netflix dramedy, which is based on Alice Oseman's books of the same name, follows teenage Nick Nelson (Connor), a star rugby player who befriends Charlie ...

[wrote](https://twitter.com/kit_connor/status/1587218539236188160), “Back for a minute. [queerbaiting](https://www.them.us/story/heartstopper-kit-connor-deletes-twitter-queerbaiting-accusations-maia-reficco)” after photos of him holding hands with his A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow co-star Maia Reficco emerged. I think it’s really important to have a show that is just portraying queer love and queer beauty.” He said, “To have a show where you see queer people being happy and being together and united as a group, I think there’s something really beautiful about that. The show’s first season was released in April and was renewed for two more seasons shortly after. Although, according to the actor, he felt forced to do so by fans of the show.

After the 18-year-old was accused of queerbaiting, he took a break from Twitter—and came back with news he may not have been ready to share.

[replied to his tweet](https://twitter.com/joelocke03/status/1587404252808417282), writing, “You owe nothing to anyone. [queerbaiting](https://www.them.us/story/what-is-queerbaiting), in which presumably straight people, often cisgender men, pretend to be queer in a bid to get attention from the LGBTQ+ community and raise their own platform. “I’m not too big on labels and things like that,” he continued. I’m so proud of you my friend.” Heartstopper author Oseman also took to Twitter to lend support to Connor, [replying to his tweet](https://twitter.com/AliceOseman/status/1587226699036610561), “I truly don’t understand how people can watch Heartstopper and then gleefully spend their time speculating about sexualities and judging based on stereotypes. Locke, Connor’s costar and love interest on the show, On Monday, the 18-year-old returned to Twitter after a seven-week absence from the social media platform and came out:

Fans of and the creator behind Netflix series “Heartstopper” are rallying around series star Kit Connor after the actor shared that he was “forced” to come ...

Connor added, “To have a show where you see queer people being happy and being together and united as a group, I think there’s something really beautiful about that. I think it’s really important to have a show that is just portraying queer love and queer beauty.” [Twitter Monday](https://twitter.com/kit_connor/status/1587218539236188160), writing: “Back for a minute. “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 wrote. Kit you are amazing.” [Heartstopper](https://variety.com/t/heartstopper/)” are rallying around series star [Kit Connor](https://variety.com/t/kit-connor/) after the actor shared that he was “forced” to come out as bisexual.

Kit Connor, who plays Nick Nelson on Heartstopper, has come out as bisexual following months of harassment and speculation about his sexuality.

[Heartstopper](https://collider.com/heartstopper-moments-we-want-in-season-2/) is a [coming-of-age series](https://collider.com/tv-shows-like-young-royals/) that premiered on Netflix in April. [Best LGBTQ TV Show](https://collider.com/ways-heartstopper-dismantled-queer-representation-stereotypes/). [Twitter account](https://twitter.com/kit_connor/status/1587218539236188160/), before calling out fans of the Netflix dramedy for making him feel like he had to come out, “congrats for forcing an 18 year old to out himself.” Connor stated in an interview with [Entertainment Weekly](https://ew.com/tv/heartstopper-stars-joe-locke-kit-connor-interview/) that he read all four volumes of the graphic novel by Alice Oseman and thought it was “something [he had] to be a part of,” but fans had reportedly begun to harass the young actor with their speculations about his sexuality. Connor ended his post by admonishing fans for their behavior towards him, adding, “[I] think some of you missed the point of the show. Connor revealed he felt pressured by Heartstopper fans to reveal his bisexuality on his social media account. The actor posted the news that he is bisexual on his personal Twitter account on Monday.

Actor Kit Connor attends a special screening of "The Gray Man" at BFI Southbank on July 19 in London. David M. Benett/WireImage/Getty Images.

That makes some people uncomfortable (read: the current culture wars targeting [trans kids](https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/01/us/texas-gender-affirming-care-minors-agency-employees-court-filing/index.html), [LGBTQ rights](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/17/politics/state-legislation-lgbtq-rights/index.html), [literature](https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/22/us/lgbtq-book-bans-race-deconstructed-newsletter-reaj/index.html) and school policies, among other things). While it’s progress that openly queer actors are being cast in leading roles, weaponizing criticisms of queerbaiting and appropriation as an excuse to force a teen or any actor out of the closet is not the answer. There is only person who should drive that decision, and no, it’s not a Twitter troll. [openly trans actor Elliot Page](https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/02/entertainment/elliot-page-transitioning-essay/index.html) today, performers have long had to live double lives and hide their true identities to remain on the A list – even to remain safe and alive. What we shouldn’t do is publicly shame someone into disclosing a part of themselves they may not be ready to or want to share. Does a cisgender person playing a transgender character amount to a White actor in blackface, or playing a role of a BIPOC person, or is there a different litmus test? Coming out is not a one-time act, or something that remains fixed, and why should it be? Would a television series or movie get attention if a star-studded cishet cast was replaced for the sake of aligning representation? It is not the way we ought to be operating as a culture. We’ve come a long way in a short time in terms of representation in media. [he addressed in a tweet](https://twitter.com/kit_connor/status/1521245416901296128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1521245416901296128%7Ctwgr%5Ecc032a48fc17da20ce25881e58f9f9b2c81e8ecf%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeednews.com%2Farticle%2Fdavidmack%2Fkit-connor-heartstopper-bisexual-comes-out), saying, “twitter is so funny man. In the coming-of-age series with a refreshing, queer-forward plot, Connor plays a British high school rugby Nick Nelson, alongside classmate Charlie Spring, played by Joe Locke, who falls in love with him.

Kit Connor, the 18-year-old English actor known for his role as Nick Nelson in the Netflix series Heartstopper, came out as bisexual on Twitter on Monday ...

[Facebook Pivoted to the Metaverse](https://time.com/6225617/facebook-metaverse-anniversary-vr/?utm_source=roundup&utm_campaign=20221028). [How Far Our Climate Goals Have Slipped](https://time.com/6225631/climate-goals-un-report-global-warming/?utm_source=roundup&utm_campaign=20221028)Out of Reach, In a Single Chart “But at the same time you shouldn’t make someone feel uncomfortable to the point where they have to tell a stranger about their sexuality.” [webcomic](https://aliceoseman.com/heartstopper/the-history/) by the same name, which later became a series of graphic novels. “I believe that they are extremely helpful for some people in terms of self-understanding and self-realization, but I prefer not to think too much about labels. “I am not a big believer in labels,” Connor told Hunger. (The show has since been renewed for two more seasons.) Their peers all assume that Nick is straight, until (spoiler alert) Nick falls for Charlie, too—realizing that he bisexual in the process. Aw, thank you for telling me,” his mom responds, hugging him. “I still like girls, but, um… In a tender scene toward the end of the first season, Nick comes out to his mom (Olivia Colman). “I truly don’t understand how people can watch Heartstopper and then gleefully spend their time speculating about sexualities and judging based on stereotypes,” she tweeted.

The creator of 'Heartstopper,' as well as fans of the show and celebrities including Luke Evans, are showing support for star Kit Connor after he tweeted ...

Kit you are amazing.” The topic ( [and definition](https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/queerbaiting/)) of “queerbaiting” [resurfaced on Twitter](https://twitter.com/acegirleatscake/status/1587466618472472583), as many point out it’s used to critique the media and corporations, not human beings. bye.” The actor — who plays the bisexual rugby player Nick Nelson and falls in love with Charlie Spring (played by Joe Locke) — was recently [bullied](https://twitter.com/guephobica/status/1576283743253278720) on social media after being accused of [“queerbaiting”](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/kit-connor-heartstopper-came-out-as-bi-he-shouldnt-have-had-to) for holding hands with his A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow [co-star Maia Reficco](https://collider.com/cuban-girls-guide-to-tea-and-tomorrow-adaptation-maia-reficco-kit-connor/). [wrote](https://twitter.com/kit_connor/status/1569277820702171136) on Twitter, “back for a minute.