Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart asks fans to focus on something other than her love life
She writes a heartfelt text post on Tumblr to try and reclaim her privacy.
Lili Reinhart, who currently plays Betty on ‘Riverdale’ (returning to television on October 11) took to Tumblr to pen a surprisingly candid note about her fans.
“It’s horrifying how invested some people are in my love life,” she posted. “Emphasis on ‘my.’ It is mine. It is private. If a stranger’s love life is causing you anger, frustration or anxiety… please reevaluate your priorities. I also want to point out that there is a difference between shipping Betty and other characters, and shipping me with literally everyone I make eye contact with. There are so many other things to focus your attention and energy on.”
At only 21, Lili was thrown into the spotlight when ‘Riverdale’ hit screens last year and became an international TV sensation. She stars alongside Cole Sprouse, who plays Jughead, and the two have made countless headlines since episode one about their supposed off-screen relationship.
Because neither Lili nor Cole has come forward and confirmed or denied the relationship, the rumors have only continued to grow. And in today’s world of fandoms, where the lines between real relationships and “shipping” often become blurred, it’s easy to see why Lili feels like too many people are a little too interested in her love life.
Love is the only thing we can offer one another at this point. So love really fucking hard. Always.
— Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart) October 2, 2017
Cole recently told ‘Entertainment Weekly’ that he was happy his on-screen feelings toward Lili had translated so well fans thought they were real. “Truthfully, it’s very pleasing that people talk about Lili and I in that way, because it means that we’re resonating so strongly that people really want that to be true,” he said.
When it comes to shipping, Lili’s reminders are important: you shouldn’t be so invested in other people’s relationships (whether real or fictional) that they cause you emotional distress, and it’s unfair to someone like her, who’s in the public eye, to assume they’re in a relationship with everyone you see them with.
So for now, just tune in to the CW on October 11—or Netflix on October 12—to continue watching Betty and Jughead’s love story.
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