Canadian actor François Arnaud has scaled back his social media activity, unfollowing co-stars and the creative team behind the series Heated Rivalry amid a surge of online harassment and speculative dating rumours.
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The 40-year-old actor unfollowed fellow cast members Hudson Williams, Robbie G.K., and Connor Storrie, along with series creator Jacob Tierney, according to entertainment outlet Just Jared. The actor’s Instagram following reportedly dropped from over 1,000 accounts to just 213 within a week — a move that immediately fueled debate across fan communities.
The dispute appears to have begun after Arnaud and Storrie were photographed together at JFK International Airport following a promotional tour in New York City. The images ignited romantic speculation and “shipping” discussions among fans, with some supporting the pairing while others insisted Storrie should be linked with co-star Williams instead.
The disagreement escalated into personal attacks and targeted harassment directed at Arnaud, prompting him to retreat from social engagement and distance himself from colleagues online.
Reaction across X (formerly Twitter) was divided. While many expressed concern for the actor’s well-being, others questioned the decision to unfollow the cast rather than simply mute discussions. One user wrote that Arnaud appeared to be limiting his online presence “due to nasty comments and harassment,” while others urged fans to respect boundaries and “leave him alone.”
The controversy has led to new speculation about the working environment on set and whether the tension could affect the future of Heated Rivalry.
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Arnaud has previously acknowledged discomfort with digital scrutiny. During an appearance on SiriusXM’s The Morning Mashup, he admitted feeling overwhelmed by social media attention, joking: “I’m like, ‘Oh, delete Instagram now.’ This is how it should end — this is my happy ending.” Neither Arnaud’s representatives nor the production team have commented publicly on the situation.