Kit Connor talks about being bisexual and coming out under pressure: 'I feel much more secure in myself now'
LONDON, UK: Kit Connor, the star of Netflix's 'Heartstopper,' has opened up about his bisexuality and how he was pressured to come out by fans who accused him of "queerbaiting." The 19-year-old actor, who plays Nick Nelson, a rugby player who falls in love with another boy, on the show based on Alice Oseman's graphic novels, revealed his sexual identity in a tweet in November 2022.
He wrote, “I’m bi. Congrats for forcing an 18-year-old to out himself. I think some of you missed the point of the show. Bye.” In a recent interview with British Vogue, Connor shared his journey of discovering his sexuality and how he felt about having to publicly announce it.
'It was just a very natural process for me'
He said that he had been coming to terms with his bisexuality before he landed the role of Nick and that it was a natural process for him. “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. He added that his family was supportive and accepting, but he faced challenges at his all-boys school, where he felt he didn't fit in. “I was in a very heteronormative atmosphere,” he continued.
“It wasn’t hugely inclusive. It wasn’t really accepted in a lot of ways.” He also said that he struggled with the stereotypes and expectations around bisexuality. “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 just felt like it wasn’t something I was ready to talk about'
Connor admitted that he was not ready to talk about his sexuality when he tweeted about it and that he was disappointed by the fans who pressured him. “I just felt like it wasn’t something I was ready to talk about. I wasn’t angry. I was just slightly disappointed by this reaction,” he said. He also said that he felt like some people thought he could handle it because he had been in the industry for a while. “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 said.
'At the end of the day, I don’t regret it'
However, he said that he did not regret coming out, and that it was empowering in many ways. “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,” he said.
The young actor received support from his 'Heartstopper' castmates and creator after his tweet. Joe Locke, who plays Charlie, his love interest on the show. "You owe nothing to anyone. I’m so proud of you my friend,” he tweeted at the time. Alice Oseman also defended him from the “queerbaiting” accusations, writing, “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 added: “I hope all those people are embarrassed as F*** Kit you are amazing.” 'Heartstopper' returns to Netflix for season 2 on August 3.