Heartstopper Star Kit Connor Reveals Brave Journey of Embracing Bisexuality Amidst Controversy

Kit Connor. Jonathan Paciullo/SIPA/Shutterstock

Kit Connor, the 19-year-old star of Heartstopper, opened up about the pressure he felt to publicly reveal his bisexuality. He shared that the accusations of queerbaiting from fans compelled him to address his sexual orientation. In an interview with British Vogue on July 4th, Connor expressed his feelings of not being ready to discuss it and how he was more disappointed than angry with the reaction.

Connor acknowledged that he had not originally intended to address his personal life. He explained that it seemed there was an assumption that he could handle it due to his experience in the industry. While he wouldn't use the term "forced," he admitted he would have preferred to handle it differently and may not have addressed it at all. However, he expressed that he has no regrets and found the experience to be empowering.

Heartstopper revolves around Charlie, a high school student, who develops feelings for his new friend Nick (played by Connor) after being publicly revealed as gay. As their friendship deepens, the popular rugby player begins to question his own sexuality.

Joe Locke and Kit Connor. Teddy Cavendish/Netflix

Connor's personal life generated significant online discussion following the success of the show. This was further fueled when he was seen with his co-star Maia Reficco from A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow. Fans accused the Rocketman actor of exploiting rumors about his sexual orientation. In response, Connor broke his usual silence about his dating life with a rare statement. "Taking a brief moment to clarify. I identify as bisexual. Congratulations for pressuring an 18-year-old to publicly reveal his sexual orientation. It seems some of you may have missed the underlying message of the show. Goodbye," he tweeted in October 2022.

Connor received an overwhelming amount of love and support from the Heartstopper cast and crew. Alice Oseman, the author of the Heartstopper graphic novels, responded, expressing her confusion at how people can enjoy the series but then engage in speculating about sexualities and making judgments based on stereotypes. She hopes that those individuals feel embarrassed. She praised Connor, saying, "Kit, you are amazing."

In a recent interview on Wednesday, Connor talked about how he had accepted his sexual orientation prior to taking on the role of Nick. It was a natural and gradual process for him, without any sudden realizations.

Connor expressed gratitude towards his family for their remarkable acceptance and inclusivity, which was in stark contrast to his time spent at an all-boys school. Describing it as a highly heteronormative environment, he emphasized its lack of inclusiveness and acceptance in numerous aspects.

Continuing on, the star of His Dark Materials highlighted the problematic stereotypical portrayal of bisexuality, asserting that it often creates a sense of confusion and ambiguity for individuals who identify as such. He questioned the societal expectations of being either strictly heterosexual or exclusively homosexual, and expressed that he now feels significantly more self-assured in his identity.