Actor François Arnaud has spoken out about the online harassment he's faced since dating rumors began circulating about his "Heated Rivalry" co-star Connor Storrie.
The 40-year-old star told the Toronto Star that fans have been overwhelmingly positive and respectful, but some younger viewers have taken to social media to harass him. He attributed this behavior to a lack of understanding between reality and fiction, saying, "I honestly wish they would just rewatch the show, because it doesn't seem like they got its message."
Arnaud faced death threats and other forms of online abuse after being spotted jetting out of JFK airport with Storrie. However, he has since unfollowed several cast and crew members, including co-stars Robbie G.K. and Hudson Williams, as well as series creator Jacob Tierney.
The actor explained that he had to unfollow people in batches due to Instagram's 24-hour unfollow limit. He also claimed that his recent middle finger selfie with Williams was unrelated to the online harassment he's faced, saying it was simply a fun post.
However, Arnaud revealed that the harassment has left him feeling unsettled and considering a change of address. "I'm like, 'Oh, maybe a little bungalow with street access, not on a gated property, is not the best thing,'" he joked. Instead, he plans to move into a building with a doorman for added security.
The incident has sparked online drama, with some fans defending Storrie and others accusing him of stealing Arnaud's attention from co-star Hudson Williams. One fan even called for them to "leave François alone," while another suggested that Storrie should be paired with Williams instead.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Arnaud will navigate the online drama and what changes he'll make to his personal life as a result.
The 40-year-old star told the Toronto Star that fans have been overwhelmingly positive and respectful, but some younger viewers have taken to social media to harass him. He attributed this behavior to a lack of understanding between reality and fiction, saying, "I honestly wish they would just rewatch the show, because it doesn't seem like they got its message."
Arnaud faced death threats and other forms of online abuse after being spotted jetting out of JFK airport with Storrie. However, he has since unfollowed several cast and crew members, including co-stars Robbie G.K. and Hudson Williams, as well as series creator Jacob Tierney.
The actor explained that he had to unfollow people in batches due to Instagram's 24-hour unfollow limit. He also claimed that his recent middle finger selfie with Williams was unrelated to the online harassment he's faced, saying it was simply a fun post.
However, Arnaud revealed that the harassment has left him feeling unsettled and considering a change of address. "I'm like, 'Oh, maybe a little bungalow with street access, not on a gated property, is not the best thing,'" he joked. Instead, he plans to move into a building with a doorman for added security.
The incident has sparked online drama, with some fans defending Storrie and others accusing him of stealing Arnaud's attention from co-star Hudson Williams. One fan even called for them to "leave François alone," while another suggested that Storrie should be paired with Williams instead.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Arnaud will navigate the online drama and what changes he'll make to his personal life as a result.
i feel so bad for him 
everyone needs a break from all that negativity 
especially when its about something thats not even real life 
just cuz u got a rival ship doesnt mean u gotta deal with hate online 
some people need to watch the show and get a grip 
also can we pls support François instead of taking sides 
love how he's handling it tho, getting a new place with a doorman sounds like a great idea 
security first 
~ Woodrow Wilson
and i totally get why he'd want to move to a new place for his own security, no one should have to feel that way because of their personal life 
. I mean, can you blame him for feeling unsettled after getting death threats and online abuse? It's wild that some people think it's okay to go after someone just because they're in a TV show 
. I feel bad for his middle finger selfie with Robbie G.K., I'm sure he didn't mean for it to get blown out of proportion like that 
. Arnaud's plan to move into a building with a doorman for added security makes sense, though - safety first, right? 
.
!
I feel bad for François, gotta be super tough dealing with that kind of harassment online 
. And omg, middle finger selfie with Robbie G.K.? Girl, bye! 
.
. And honestly, I feel bad for him - death threats are not cool 
. Maybe this will be a lesson to all of us about respecting people's boundaries, both in real life and online 
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. I hope his co-stars and fans are supportive and don't add to the stress 
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... i feel bad for François, like he's just trying to live his best life after filming this show 
, but it's crazy how some fans are being super unfair and hurtful online 
anyway, hope François gets his life back to normal soon 
. He's saying that some fans are just confusing reality TV with real life and that's not cool 
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. And I love how he's not taking the middle finger selfie thing too seriously 
. But seriously though, it's no joke when you're getting harassed online and need to take steps to protect yourself 
Like, I'm glad François is handling it all with class, but it's just wild that some fans are taking out their frustrations on him online. 
. I'm glad he's prioritizing his safety and considering a change of address. 
Maybe it's time for him to take a break from social media or at least limit his online presence. 
Like, some people might think François is stealing attention away from Robbie G.K., but what if he's not even thinking about it? 
. I wish more people could put themselves in someone else's shoes, like François did with Connor Storrie