As someone who is proudly Team Conrad, I will openly admit that Jeremiah is not my favorite character in the coming-of-age novel and TV show The Summer I Turned Pretty. The series follows a teenage girl, Belly, as she navigates her way through a complex love triangle involving two brothers, Jeremiah and Conrad Fisher. Jeremiah’s bubbly playfulness conflicts with Conrad’s quiet intensity, and similarly to other fans, I find myself leaning towards Conrad and Belly’s relationship in the love triangle. Conrad’s depth and complicated emotions make him the kind of character I would prefer Belly to end up with. But while I may not favor Jeremiah’s character, played by Gavin Casalegno, fans should not be subjecting him to hatred and abuse. Actors are not their characters, and fans should not treat them as such in the real world.
As the third and final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty draws to a close, the series has sparked major conflict between Jeremiah and Conrad fans. In the most recent season, Jeremiah’s actions have sparked a major uproar within the show’s fandom, with angry fans expressing their distaste for Jeremiah through fiery comments, targeted harassment, and even death threats. According to a BBC article, Jenny Han, the author of the book series the TV show is based upon, is urging fans to refrain from sending and posting hate toward the actors based solely on the way their characters behave in the show.
Casalengo stated in a NY Times interview, “I think it’s important to understand and realize that this is a fictional story – and it’s also not me.” This is a much-needed reminder to teens and young adults who enjoy the show–just because you may disagree with a fictional character’s actions, it does not entitle you to express resentment towards the actor. Casalengo is simply doing his job and fulfilling the role casting directors wrote for him. He doesn’t write the script, control the storylines, or decide whom Belly ends up with.
It is disappointing to see how some fans take their personal views on a TV show so seriously, ultimately blurring the line between reality and fiction. The debate between Conrad and Jeremiah should be a fun, light-hearted discussion, not an excuse for online harassment and unhealthy parasocial relationships. The actors themselves have reminded viewers that the fandom backlash is overwhelming, which speaks to a bigger issue with how we treat celebrities online. Viewers must remind themselves that actors, singers, and influencers are real people with emotions, and no one should feel entitled to criticize them harshly through posts or comments.
Fans should not use passion to fuel personal attacks, but instead as a way to spark interesting conversations, debates, and diving deeper into the show’s complex characters. Even Prime Video has responded to the hate, posting a statement encouraging fans to refrain from bullying, stating, “Let’s keep the conversation kind this summer.” This comes down to basic respect. The internet can be a negative resource that does not need more hatred. These actors do not deserve to be treated as villains, as if their characters reflect their own values. I will always be Team Conrad, but I can recognize that actors such as Gavin Casalengo should not have to deal with the backlash of angry fans for simply doing their jobs.
(BBC, New York Times)
Categories: Opinion