François Arnaud Speaks Out After Online Harassment Linked to Dating Rumors

Actor François Arnaud has broken his silence on the online harassment he has faced following rumors that he is dating his Heated Rivalry co-star Connor Storrie.

In a candid interview with the Toronto Star published Saturday, the 40-year-old actor said that while most fans have been supportive, a small group crossed serious boundaries.

“In general, fans have been incredibly positive and respectful,” Arnaud said. “For the ones that aren’t, I think it’s a lot of younger fans who don’t really understand the difference between reality and fiction.”

According to reports, the backlash escalated to the point of including death threats.

Dating Rumors Spark Fan Backlash

The harassment began after Arnaud and Storrie were photographed leaving JFK Airport together following a press week in New York for Heated Rivalry, in which Arnaud plays Scott Hunter.

The photos fueled speculation that the two actors are romantically involved. Some fans reacted negatively, insisting that Storrie should instead be linked to his on-screen love interest Hudson Williams, who plays Shane Hollander opposite Storrie’s Ilya Rozanov.

As the online drama grew, one X user summed up the frustration many felt, writing: “They need to leave this gentle king alone.”

Social Media Unfollowing Explained

Around the same time, fans noticed Arnaud had unfollowed much of the Heated Rivalry cast and crew on Instagram, including Storrie, Williams, and series creator Jacob Tierney. His “following” list reportedly dropped from over 1,000 accounts to just 213.

Arnaud later re-followed everyone and clarified that the move was not personal.

“I’m unfollowing everyone, and Instagram won’t let me do that all at once,” he explained. “You can only unfollow a certain amount of people over 24 hours, which I did not know.”

He also addressed a shared photo of himself and Williams flipping the middle finger, saying it was mostly unrelated to the harassment and part of a long-running joke series he does online.

Harassment Leads to Life Changes

While Arnaud downplayed some of the online speculation, he admitted the situation has made him rethink his living arrangements.

“I’m like, ‘Oh, maybe a little bungalow with street access… is not the best thing,’” he said, revealing he plans to move into a building with a doorman for added security.

Despite the turmoil, Arnaud urged fans to revisit the show’s themes.

“I honestly wish they would just rewatch the show,” he said. “Pay attention more closely. Did we watch the same show?”

The actor’s message is clear: fiction should stay on screen—and respect should come first.