Kit Connor came out as bisexual in an October 2022 Twitter post in which the Heartstopper breakout wrote, Back for a minute. Im bi. Congrats for forcing an 18 year old to out himself. I think some of you missed the point of the show. Bye.
Prior to the social media post, Connor had been facing mounting accusations of queerbaiting due to his role as Nick in the popular Netflix coming-of-age series. Connor stars on Heartstopper as a high school jock coming to terms with his own bisexuality. The public perception of Connor was that he was a straight actor taking on a queer role (and participating in queer events like pride marches in order to promote the show), so Connors own coming out as bisexual was in part to course-correct that false narrative among Heartstopper fans.
In a new interview with British Vogue, Connor clarified his coming out by saying, I think forced isnt the right word I would use, but I would say that I would have preferred to do it another way. I also dont know if I would have ever done it. But at the end of the day I dont regret it. In many ways it was really empowering.
Connor said that he had been coming to terms with being bisexual before accepting the role of Nick in Heartstopper.
It was just a very natural process for me, Connor said. I didnt really have an oh, shit moment. It just became more and more evident.
Connors family was super accepting and inclusive and wonderful regarding his bisexuality, but school mates were a different story.
I was in a very heteronormative atmosphere, Connor said. It wasnt hugely inclusive. It wasnt really accepted in a lot of ways Its the experience of maybe youre too straight to be gay and youre too gay to be straight. So its like, Where do I sit? But I feel much more secure in myself now.
Connor said his sexuality wasnt something I was ready to talk about as his fame grew amid Heartstopper success and fans wanted to know more about his personal life. Regarding the fan pressure, he added, I wasnt angry. I was just slightly disappointed by this reaction.
With Heartstopper being such a sensation, Connor is well aware the show will probably follow him around for the rest of his career as an actor. But hed prefer to lose all labels.
Im conscious of the fact I dont want people to go and watch everything Im ever in now and go, Oh, its Nick from Heartstopper,' he said. I also dont want to be labelled as anything, as a heartthrob or as the queer actor or as this or that. I want to be labelled as an actor who can do different things.
Heartstopper Season 2 debuts Aug. 3 on Netflix.