Kit Connor came out after online pressure last year (Picture: Netflix)
Heartstopper’s Kit Connor doesn’t believe that his queerness should be a ‘defining factor’ of who he is.
The actor, 19, shared with his millions of followers last November that he is bisexual.
It came after pressure from Heartstopper viewers and online trolls, with people accusing him of ‘queerbaiting’ for not publicly labelling his sexuality.
Kit has now said that the tweet he wrote was ‘frankly a bit rash’.
Aged 18 at the time, Kit tweeted: ‘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 new interview with The Guardian and after admitting he wishes his coming out could’ve been ‘different’, the child star insisted that he is more than his sexuality.
The young actor shared in November that he is bisexual following accusations of ‘queerbaiting’ (Picture: David M. Benett/Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
‘The whole point of the show is that [queerness] is not always so stereotyped,’ began the Nick Nelson actor, whose character also comes out as bi at the end of season 1.
‘There are so many lines in the show where someone goes, “Nick Nelson, he’s the straightest guy in the school. He’s the captain of the rugby team so there’s no way [he’s queer].” Sometimes you just need to give people space.’
Kit added that season 2 of the Netflix phenomenon – which lands on August 3 – will address Nick’s struggles with coming out.
He believes this is ‘important’ for audiences to see.
‘Although now I know that I’m queer, I personally don’t find it a super defining factor,’ he shared.
‘I wouldn’t want to be defined by “queer actor”. I want to play all parts. Hopefully, I can do that if my career lasts, if I flourish. Touch wood.’
His character, Nick Nelson, also came out as bi in Heartstopper season 1 (Picture: Netflix)
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Reflecting on coming out previously, Kit insisted that he isn’t ‘angry’ about how it went down.
However, he was ‘disappointed’ by the reaction.
‘I just felt like it wasn’t something I was ready to talk about,’ he said.
While he’s explained that he didn’t feel that ‘forced’ was the right word to use now, Kit argued that he ‘would have preferred to do it another way’.
However, he’s unsure if he 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 added while speaking to British Vogue.
Heartstopper season 2 sees Kit return as rugby lad Nick, who is in a relationship with quiet boy Charlie Spring, played by Joe Locke.
Season 2 of the beloved series lands on August 3 (Picture: Faysal/Hassan/Netflix)
The adorable couple declared themselves boyfriends at the end of season 1, much to the delight of millions of viewers.
Season 2 is set to pick up where we left off, with the characters heading on a school trip to Paris, getting excited for prom, and, of course, navigating the trials and tribulations of young love.
Heartstopper season 2 lands on Netflix on August 3.
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The teen actor doesn’t believe his sexuality ‘defines’ him.
