The Summer I Turned Pretty creator addresses Jeremiah hate after Prime Video’s “bullying” PSA

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With the Season 3 finale of *The Summer I Turned Pretty* now available, creator Jenny Han hopes viewers will take a moment to understand Jeremiah’s story. She even jokingly suggests that fans who support either Jeremiah or Conrad can finally put aside their differences and get along.

Both the *Summer I Turned Pretty* books and the TV series center around Belly’s love life, specifically the choice she faces between the Fisher brothers: the kind and reliable Jeremiah, and the more complex and reserved Conrad.

For the past three seasons, everyone’s been talking about who Belly will choose. The debate has gone viral on TikTok, with hashtags like #TeamConrad and #TeamJeremiah gaining billions of views each time a new episode aired.

The show has faced some drama along the way. Before Season 3 launched, Prime Video released a message encouraging kindness to protect both the actors and viewers. Recently, the actress herself has spoken up to support her co-star Jeremiah. Be aware that the following contains spoilers!

The Summer I Turned Pretty creator defends cast against real-life backlash

With the final episode of *The Summer I Turned Pretty* now available – where Belly chooses Conrad – the show’s author, Jenny Han, hopes viewers will also recognize and value the character development of Jeremiah.

Okay, so a lot of the hate this season has been directed at Jeremiah, especially after he and Lacie got together while he and Belly were ‘on a break’. But honestly, even before that, a lot of Conrad fans weren’t feeling his storyline. They’ve always been Team Conrad and believe he and Belly are meant to be together, just like in the books. It’s like they’ve always known Belly and Conrad were endgame!

It’s been really upsetting to see, but some of the negativity about the show actually turned into real-life harassment. Lola Tung, who plays Belly, and Gavin Casalegno, who plays Jeremiah, have been getting awful online abuse, even death threats, just because of what happens with their characters on screen. It’s just awful that it’s come to this.

The problem became so serious that Prime Video released a public statement before the start of Season 3, making it clear they won’t tolerate bullying or hateful language. This policy applies to anyone who attacks the cast or crew, or harasses or reveals personal information about members of the show’s community.

PSA for the Summer community 🚨

— The Summer I Turned Pretty (@thesummeritp) July 14, 2025

Speaking with the LA Times about the season finale, Han pointed out that it’s easy to forget viewers are actually commenting on the actor, not just the character, when criticizing someone’s looks or how they act.

Just because someone is famous doesn’t make it any easier for them when they read hurtful things – they’re still real people with feelings.

Jenny Han says fans were “really hard on” Jeremiah

While Jere may be a fictional character, calling him “the internet’s most hated boyfriend” seems a bit extreme. Han, the creator, hopes fans will now that the show has finished, take a moment to consider Jere’s development and overall story.

He’s navigating the challenges of growing up while also grieving the loss of his mother, Susannah. As Han explained, personal development isn’t always a straight path.

I really connected with his storyline this season. A lot of people criticized him for what happened with Lacie Barone while he and Belly were separated, but honestly, it was a really sad story.

Deep down, he understood that Belly’s heart still belonged to Conrad, and Conrad felt the same way about her. He also accepted that he would always welcome her back, regardless of what she told him.

He believed having an affair meant their relationship was over, because he didn’t think she could ever forgive him for it.

Han explained that it’s perfectly okay to support Jeremiah and be friends with someone who supports Conrad, or vice versa. He added that the division between fans wouldn’t be so strong if there was a clear-cut best choice.

Jenny Han is open to creating more shows set in the world of *The Summer I Turned Pretty*, but only if she feels truly enthusiastic about the project. She explained that being a showrunner is a demanding, year-round commitment, so she needs to be genuinely excited to take it on.

I need to be fully involved in a project to feel confident about it. I’m interested in continuing to create stories within this world, but I need to find a story that I’m truly passionate about – one that I’m willing to dedicate years of my life to.

All three seasons of The Summer I Turned Pretty are now available to stream on Prime Video. Plus, you can find out what other new shows are currently streaming and see a preview of what’s coming in 2025 with our TV release calendar.

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2025-09-17 13:19