Heated Rivalry season two has officially found its Harris and Troy, with Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie taking over the roles, but Justice and author Rachel Reid have had to respond to the filthy amount of backlash the casting has received. Basically, a lot of people have been questioning whether the actors are right for the characters. You might remember, when Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie were announced as Shane and Ilya, people also had their doubts. Then Heated Rivalry premiered, and their chemistry became one of the biggest reasons people became completely feral for the show. Now, the same thing is happening again. Justice, who will play Harris, has now responded directly to the reaction. And his response is much more gracious than the internet probably deserved. Posting on his Instagram Story, he wrote, “I have to say I am moved by the support and love I’m getting from fans in my DMs, fans who have welcomed me with open arms, and who already feel a responsibility to protect me.” He added, “I am honoured to play a character that you all care about deeply. And I promise that I will take good care of him if you give me the chance. I am beyond excited for the experience.” ‘Rachel Reid has given us two beautifully layered characters’ Credit: Instagram/Justice Smith The backlash has also clearly not surprised Heated Rivalry author Rachel Reid. In fact, she had a pretty savage reminder for viewers who were already convinced the casting was wrong. After Justice and Charlie were announced, Reid responded on her Instagram Story. She wrote, “Thinking about all the people last summer who told me the casting for Ilya and Shane was wrong and bad…” Because, yes, people did question Hudson and Connor before season one even aired. And now people love and appreciate the casting. Even though Hudson and Connor are almost the complete opposites of their on-screen characters. Now, show creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady have also defended Justice and Charlie following the reaction. Tierney said in a statement to Deadline, “Rachel Reid has given us two beautifully layered characters in Harris and Troy who you can’t help but root for. From the start of the casting process, we knew we were looking for actors who could create something truly special together and bring that same depth and heart to the screen.” Brady added, “Justice and Charlie do exactly that. They immediately connected with the vulnerability and resilience at the core of these characters, bringing an instinctive understanding of who Harris and Troy are.” For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page. Featured image credit: Jojo Korsh/BFA.com/Shutterstock. Post navigation Next story
