Heartstopper’s Joe Locke says fans need to 'learn boundaries'
Heartstopper star Joe Locke has opened up about concerning fan interactions, saying that people need to "learn their boundaries".
The actor, who plays Charlie Spring in the Netflix series, revealed in a new interview how his family have been subjected to worrying behaviour by fans.
This includes his mother making new social media accounts after some tried to message her or locate her, while one even called his grandmother.
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“It’s a weird guilt I sometimes feel that, by association, their lives are affected by choices in my life,” Locke told Teen Vogue.
“It's a mutual thing. I need to learn my boundaries and people need to learn their boundaries. Most attention comes from a really good place, and I hope I always appreciate that.”
Co-star Kit Connor also spoke about how the show's cast support each other from negativity online, explaining: “If something's happening online that we're all getting stressed out about, there are several people on set who will just take the piss out of us for it.
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“Anytime you need any support, you've got that. But it also – in a very nice way, really – normalizes things."
Locke added: “If I don't know you, and I don't care about your opinion, you can say what you want about me and that's not gonna upset me.
"Whereas if someone like Kit was to turn around and tell me I was a horrible person, that would upset me because I care about Kit's opinion. I like Kit. I care about Kit. If he was to say something mean to me, it would upset me.”
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During the same interview, Locke also confirmed his sexuality for the first time, revealing that he is gay.
“I have been openly gay since I was, like, 12,” he said. “People have assumed and written it, [but] I haven't ever corrected anyone because I haven't felt the need to – I've never specifically stated my sexuality [until now]."
Heartstopper is streaming on Netflix, where season 2 will premiere on August 3.
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