The Summer I Turned Pretty creator addresses Jeremiah hate after Prime Video’s “bullying” PSA
Prime VideoThe Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 finale has arrived, and creator Jenny Han is hoping the fans can now step back and appreciate Jeremiah’s journey in the show – maybe Team Jeremiah and Team Conrad can even be friends.
At its heart, both The Summer I Turned Pretty books and the Prime Video series have always been about the love triangle of Belly caught between the Fisher brothers: the sweet, dependable Jeremiah and the brooding, complicated Conrad.
Over the course of three seasons, Belly’s choice has been the subject of a full on viral movement. TikTok is awash with #TeamConrad and #TeamJeremiah posts, racking up billions of views as new episodes dropped.
This passion hasn’t been without its controversy. Just before Season 3 premiered, Prime Video pushed out an anti-bullying PSA aimed at protecting the cast and fans alike. And now, Han herself has stepped in to defend Jeremiah. Warning: spoilers ahead!
The Summer I Turned Pretty creator defends cast against real-life backlash
Prime VideoNow that The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Episode 11 – the last ever episode of the hit series – is here and we know Belly picks Conrad, Han is hoping fans can take a step back and appreciate Jeremiah’s journey.
You see, much of the backlash has been aimed at Jeremiah this season after he hooked up with Lacie while on a break from Belly. But even before then, Team Conrad supporters weren’t a fan of his arc due to the fact that Belly and Conrad are endgame in the books.
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However, some of this criticism spilled over into real-life, with Belly and Jeremiah actors Lola Tung and Gavin Casalegno receiving online abuse and even death threats due to their fictional storylines.
This became such an issue that Prime Video dropped a public service announcement ahead of Season 3, stating, “We have a zero tolerance policy for bullying and hate speech.” That includes engaging in hate speech or bullying, targeting the cast or crew, and harassing or doxxing community members.
In a conversation with the LA Times about the Season 3 finale, Han said, “People can forget that you’re talking about a character, but you’re saying things about the person that plays the character when you’re talking about their appearance or mannerisms.
“That is a real person, and just because they’re famous doesn’t mean that it’s not painful to read those things.”
Jenny Han says fans were “really hard on” Jeremiah
As for Jere, he might be fictional, but being dubbed “the internet’s most hated boyfriend” is a little harsh – and Han hopes fans might “take a beat and appreciate the character’s journey” now that the TV show is over.
Not only is he growing up and figuring life out, but he’s had to deal with the death of his mother, Susannah, with Han telling the outlet that “growth is not linear”.
“I genuinely love his story this season. People were really hard on him [for hooking up with Lacie Barone in Cabo while he and Belly were on a Ross and Rachel-esque break], but in many ways the story is heartbreaking,” she continued.
“In his heart of hearts, he knew Belly still loved Conrad and he knew Conrad still loved Belly. And he also knew he was always going to keep taking her back no matter what she said.
“In his mind when he slept with someone else, it was him making an irrevocable break from her because he thought that she was never going to forgive that.”
Prime VideoHan went on to say, “You can be Team Jeremiah and be friends with somebody who’s Team Conrad and vice versa, it’s all valid. And it wouldn’t be so split if there was an easy answer.”
As for whether we’ll be getting more from The Summer I Turned Pretty TV universe, Han isn’t against the idea. “But it has to feel like genuine excitement for me, because showrunning is 24/7, 365 days a year,” she said.
“I feel I have to be there every day to make sure I can stand behind it. I’m definitely open to doing more stories in the universe, it’s just that I want to figure out what the story is that I feel so compelled to tell it that I’m willing to spend the next few years throwing my whole body into it.”
The Summer I Turned Pretty Seasons 1-3 are streaming on Prime Video now. You can also check out the new TV shows streaming this month and what’s coming up with our 2025 TV release calendar.