“Once Again Invading Their Privacy”: TMZ Needs to Leave These ‘Heated Rivalry’ Stars Alone
Recently, Heated Rivalry star François Arnaud, who plays Scott Hunter in the Canada Crave/HBO Max series, has come under fire from fans of the show. It isn’t for anything he’s done, however: It’s about what he hasn’t done, which is talk about his relationship status. Now, none of us are owed that, of course, but that doesn’t stop headlines, or paparazzi-focused institutions like TMZ.
Paparazzi are, unfortunately, ubiquitous when it comes to celebrities. However, nothing they do shuuld be considered “exclusive,” since it was likely taken without permission. Despite this, TMZ recently posted an “exclusive” story about Arnaud and costar Connor Storrie having dinner together. Really, it’s less of a story and more of some photos with conjecture thrown in.
“Once again invading their privacy it seems,” said one user on X.
“So?! Friends, more than friends, it should only matter to them. I hope whatever their status is they are very very happy,” said another.
Going back to why Arnaud is suddenly enemy number one when it comes to fans of the show, there are some using these photos as an example of why this is something that Arnaud “staged” himself. Why? Who knows. He is private about his life, that doesn’t mean that he’s hiding a secret relationship with Storrie. And even if they were dating, that is nobody’s business but their own. They’re two consenting adults.
The fixation on picking apart celebrities’ personal lives and creating narratives about the most minor of details is concerning. TMZ only fuels it by feeding into that speculation. It’s one thing to document that they had dinner together; though still an invasion of privacy, it’s at least mostly harmless. Spinning a story that fuels into a narrative that is already causing issues online not just for Arnaud, but for Storrie as well?
Please keep your shipping to yourselves
Like I have said previously, I am no stranger to the idea of shipping. But that is something that should stay within fandom spaces unless it is a confirmed relationship. Sure, it’s not unusual for us as a society to speculate about whether or not so and so are dating. We’ve all read The National Enquirer at one point. The problem with what TMZ and other gossip rags are doing is that they’re adding context where there is none.
That kind of sensationalist “journalism” is more harmful than it is entertaining. Because god forbid men eat in restaurants, right?
The internet has swung wildly into toxicity in fandom spaces such as these. It becomes an echo chamber, and people feel empowered by those with similar viewpoints. Quickly, it spills from fandom spaces into public ones, like TMZ, or, worse, on the social media of the celebrities themselves.
(featured image: SPLON/MEGA/GC Images)
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