Prime Video Slams Toxic Fan Behavior Amid Bullying of ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Cast
Look, I don’t *want* to be the one to say it, but here we are—apparently, some people still haven’t figured out that fictional characters aren’t real. Welcome to the bizarre world of fandom culture, where actors are treated like they personally ruined your summer plans because their on-screen alter ego made a questionable romantic decision. And now, Prime Video is stepping in to remind people that, shock of shocks, the cast of The Summer I Turned Pretty are actual human beings who don’t deserve to be bullied over a scripted love triangle.
Let’s rewind a bit. The show, based on Jenny Han’s beloved book series, follows the emotional ups and downs of Belly (Lola Tung), and her complicated relationships with two brothers—Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). It’s a coming-of-age story wrapped in sun-soaked nostalgia, and for the most part, fans have been riding the wave since its 2022 debut. But somewhere between Season 2 and Season 3, things got real—too real.
Gavin Casalegno, who plays the occasionally reckless Jeremiah, recently told The New York Times he feels like “one of the internet’s most hated boyfriends.” And honestly, can you blame him? The guy’s character made a move that rubbed a lot of viewers the wrong way—cheating on Belly. Understandable. But the backlash has gone beyond constructive criticism and into the realm of online harassment.
Prime Video had enough. In a rare move, the streamer posted a video on TikTok with the caption: “The show isn’t real but the people playing the characters are.” The graphic, titled “The Summer We Started Acting Normal Online,” was a direct plea for fans to chill out. This wasn’t the first time the streamer had to intervene—back in July, they issued a similar statement, urging fans to keep the conversation kind. But clearly, the message didn’t stick.
And it’s not just Casalegno who’s been on the receiving end of this digital vitriol. Lola Tung, who plays Belly, has spoken out about the intensity of the hate directed at her co-star. “I’m so grateful that they care so much, but people get a little scary about it,” she told Teen Vogue in July. “Please don’t threaten to kill someone if something doesn’t go your way—I promise you, it’s not that serious.”
Jenny Han, co-showrunner and author of the original novels, echoed that sentiment in an interview with Elle, saying, “I’m protective over the cast, and I just like to remind people that everyone sees what you’re saying online, and there are real people who are playing these characters.” She added that the cast “aren’t super online,” and that she wants to protect them while still appreciating the passionate fanbase.
It’s not the first time a showrunner has had to deal with this kind of fan fervor. Julie Plec, former showrunner of The Vampire Diaries, recalled how the volume of fan response could get “legitimately scary.” And while the stakes here aren’t life-or-death, the emotional toll on young actors still matters. Casalegno himself admitted that Amazon’s intervention was a good move, even if it hasn’t fully worked yet.
So what’s next? Probably more of the same, unless fans start taking a step back and remembering that actors aren’t their characters. But hey, if you’re going to hate on a fictional love triangle, maybe do it with a little less venom. After all, it’s just a show. And the people behind it? They’re just trying to do their jobs.
And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, The New York Times, Teen Vogue, Elle
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