08 August 2023 , 07:25
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Heartstopper star Joe Locke said people "need to learn their boundaries" after a stranger called his grandmother following the show's success. The 19-year-old recalled how his family's privacy was affected after the Netflix show was released.
He stars in the series alongside Kit Connor, with the pair playing Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson respectively – two teenagers who fall in love in high school. As well as featuring a strong representation of LBGTQ+ youth, Heartstopper also explores issues such as mental health, bullying and family conflict.
After rising to fame on the hit series, strangers took steps to find out where his family lives. He admitted he felt "weird guilt" about his friends and family being largely affected by his sudden success. Joe said his mother had to create new social media accounts because strangers messaged her or try to find her location and that some strangers even called his grandmother.
Joe (left) said a stranger once called his grandma (Teddy Cavendish/Netflix)In an interview with Teen Vogue, he said: "There’s an idea that it’s part of the job to lose your privacy, that you lose your right to having privacy. That’s something I hope the next generation of people in the public eye can change…. I think people are understanding that privacy is non-negotiable."
Speaking about how it affected his family, he continued: "It’s a weird guilt I sometimes feel that, by association, their lives are affected by choices in my life... It’s a mutual thing. I need to learn my boundaries and people need to learn their boundaries." He added that most of the attention he receives comes "from a really good place".
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The star feels 'weird guilt' about his family being affected by his success (Netflix)Based on Alice Oseman's bestselling graphic novel series of the same name, the hit show has been met with widespread critical acclaim ever since it premiered in April 2022. As well as receiving rave reviews (it currently averages a rating of 8.7/10 on Rotten Tomatoes), Heartstopper has also won a litany of awards and was among the top ten most-watched English language shows on Netflix within 48 hours of its release.
Fans are already eagerly waiting for the third season. In May 2022, Netflix confirmed on Twitter that the show had been green-lit for a third season, much to the delight of its devout fanbase. However, a release date has not yet been announced but production is rumoured to begin in October 2023.
The full interview with Locke and Connor can be read online on Teen Vogue’s website.