Jacob Elordi has been taken to task over a comment he made about the romantic comedy that made him famous.
The 26-year-old Australian Hollywood star caused a stir earlier this month when he made disparaging comments about the film series “The Kissing Booth” in which he starred between 2018 and 2021 in his GQ cover story “Men of the Year.”
“I didn’t want to make these films before I made these films,” he told the publication, adding: “These films are ridiculous.” They are not universal. They are an escape.’
But fans of The Kissing Booth have harshly criticized Elordi online, calling him “ungrateful” and “disrespectful” towards his former colleagues.
“Jacob Elordi needs to understand that when you shit on a project like him, he is also shitting on his co-stars, the creators and especially the fans,” one user wrote.
Jacob Elordi, 26, (pictured) has been criticized by fans and former co-stars for dismissing The Kissing Booth film trilogy as “ridiculous”.
“These films are important to a lot of fans. “Don’t dismiss them because you suddenly took a step up,” they added.
Another agreed: “I don’t like actors who belittle their humble beginnings, the place where their career began.”
Someone else added: “Honestly not great films but a little respect to your previous projects would be good.”
The Australian Hollywood star, 26, raised eyebrows earlier this month when he made disparaging comments about The Kissing Booth film series (pictured in the first Kissing Booth film with co-star Joey King).
And Joey King, Elordi’s ex-girlfriend and co-star in the films, has also criticized the hunk for turning down the popular (but poorly reviewed) trilogy.
“I think it’s unfortunate that anyone would think that way,” the 24-year-old Emmy nominee — who stars as Rochelle “Elle” Evans — told Variety last Saturday.
“I had a lot of fun making these films, no matter what anyone else says.”
Joey King (pictured), Elordi’s ex-girlfriend and co-star in the films, has since criticized him for dismissing the popular (but poorly reviewed) trilogy, telling Variety: “I think it’s unfortunate that anyone thinks like that.”
King and Elordi were just 17 and 19 when they started dating on the set of the Netflix romance in January 2017.
However, they broke up in November 2018, which King confirmed to Refinery29 in March 2019.
Taylor Zakhar Perez, who played transfer student and Elle’s dance partner Marco Valentin Peña, was also outraged by Elordi’s comments.
King and Elordi were just 17 and 19 when they started dating on the set of their Netflix romance in January 2017, but they split in November 2018, which she confirmed to Refinery29 in March 2019
Taylor Zakhar Perez (r.), who played the transfer student and Elle’s dance partner Marco Valentin Peña, was also outraged by the 1.90 meter tall heartthrob’s comments
“I thought it was a shame because, as far as I know, everyone else had such a wonderful experience,” the 31-year-old Red, White and Royal Blue actor told Variety on November 17.
“It’s a shame he had that experience on set. “Especially when these movies came out, it was a time when we really needed something like that,” they continued.
“I know from our fan interactions that everywhere I went, I was stopped by what Kissing Booth means to people and what it brought to them in such a dark time.” I guess the silver lining is that it still makes people laugh and made you feel good.”
On November 17, Elordi attempted to do some damage control and walk back his statement, telling Variety, “I’m incredibly grateful to everyone involved.”
The Kissing Booth was Elordi’s second feature film role and – thanks to record-breaking fan enthusiasm – he soon became a household name.
In the trilogy, he played Harvard jock Noah Flynn, the long-time crush of aspiring teenager Elle Evans (Joey King), who has never been kissed.
Elle decides to open a kissing booth at her high school’s spring carnival, and sparks fly when she finds herself socializing with Noah.
In a surprising twist, Noah is the older brother of her best friend Lee (Joel Courtney), and their budding romance threatens their friendship.
Jacob is currently down under filming his role as Australian Imperial Force soldier Dorrigo Evans in the five-part adaptation of Richard Flanagan’s 2013 novel The Narrow Road to the Deep North on Amazon Prime Video.
Elordi will next reprise his role as “psychopathic” East Highland High School quarterback Nate Jacobs in the third season of Euphoria (with a five-year time jump), which begins filming this month.
Meanwhile, fans of The Kissing Booth have harshly criticized Elordi online, calling him “ungrateful” and “disrespectful” towards his former colleagues