Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan fans, you good?
Behind him, his rumored girlfriend, dancer Antonia Roumelioti, gives photogs a slightly wary smile.
But to someBridgertonfans, the photo was a five-alarm fire.
John Phillips/Getty Images
Newton seemed to be making a public announcement that hes dating Roumelioti.
Newton appears to have a new leading lady in his life.
Just as they do in theJulia Quinn books, Colin and Penelope, a.k.a.
Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan on the press tour forBridgertonseason 3.
Their story is adorable and swoonworthy, a perfect example of the much-loved friends-to-lovers trope.
However, it seems shipping the two characters isnt enough for some.
Now, manyBridgertonfans have begun shipping the twoactorswith an unsettling amount of intensity.
Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan on the press tour forBridgertonseason 3.
Its a phenomenon thats becoming more common.
(Sweeney has sinceadmittedshe came up with the flirty press tour as a marketing strategy.
It workedthe film was a hit.)
Stefania D’Alessandro
For devoted and intense fandoms such asBridgerton,this fantasy bleeding into reality has some downsides.
This has come to a head with the fervor around Polin shippers view of Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan.
Its not that hard to see why.
Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan on the press tour forBridgertonseason 3.
Fans are pissedand unfortunately, unsurprisingly, they’re focusing their furor on Roumelioti.
Deep down men arent that body positive, sniffed one person.
Im sorry, what?
(Also, where is Coughlans agency in all this?
Consider the possibility that she doesnt even like him like that!)
Newton is free to date whomever he wants, as is Coughlan.
We think its really sweet, we truly love each other, she said.
Just, you know, not in that way.
