The Summer I Turned Pretty star Gavin Casalegno is responding to the internet backlash surrounding his character Jeremiah Fisher, reminding fans that the divisive figure is fictional and not a reflection of who he is.
As the third season of the hit Amazon Prime Video series continues, viewers remain divided over the show’s central love triangle between Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) and the Fisher brothers, Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Casalegno). With Belly engaged to Jeremiah, many fans have aligned themselves with “Team Conrad,” casting Jeremiah as the unpopular choice. The character’s behavior—including a viral moment about insisting on an elaborate wedding cake—has fueled a wave of memes and criticism online.
In an interview with The New York Times, Casalegno acknowledged the negative perception. “They tend to dislike him, yes,” he said, noting that he avoids Instagram to shield himself from most of the backlash. Instead, he hears about memes from his sister and admits he finds many of them funny.
Casalegno emphasized that audiences should remember the distinction between actor and role. “This is a fictional story—and it’s also not me,” he explained, adding that no one could realistically carry the level of hostility that online discourse sometimes projects. He credited Amazon for issuing reminders to fans to avoid bullying and maintain kindness in their commentary.
Co-star Lola Tung has also spoken out, telling Teen Vogue in July that some fan reactions have crossed the line. She urged viewers not to take the story so seriously that it leads to threats or hostility.
Casalegno, who married Cheyanne King last summer, revealed he hasn’t been following the latest season closely, choosing instead to focus on traveling. Despite fan perceptions, he described Jeremiah as a “sunshine and golden retriever” character—different from his own personality.
The final episode of season three airs September 17 on Prime Video.
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