Heartstopper star Bradley Riches speaks out against wave of homophobic and ableist abuse he's received since joining Emmerdale

Bradley Riches, the Heartstopper actor who recently joined Emmerdale, has spoken out against the wave of homophobic and ableist abuse he’s received since his casting was announced. Riches, who plays Lewis Barton - the soap’s first openly gay and autistic character - has used his platform to challenge the negativity and advocate for greater representation.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Riches shared his excitement about joining the ITV soap, calling it a “dream come true”. However, he also addressed the backlash “Some of the comments and messages I’ve received are vile. Too many people are quick to judge me regarding my sexuality or being autistic, without thinking about the impact of their words.”

He added, “Kindness costs nothing, but mean comments and hiding behind your screens says a LOT about you. But lucky for you I won’t be behind a screen… I will be on YOUR SCREEN!”

Riches, who was diagnosed with autism at age nine, has long been vocal about the importance of neurodiverse visibility in media. Speaking to ITV News, he said: “The more we expose people to these kinds of people, the world will be more accepting. That’s why representation is key.”

Despite the trolling, Riches remains optimistic and grateful for the opportunity. He described joining Emmerdale as a “bucket list moment,” especially meaningful because it was his grandfather’s favourite soap. Show boss Laura Shaw praised Riches’ “warmth, wit and charisma,” promising “wonderful stories” ahead for his character.