Here's How "Heated Rivalry" Star Connor Storrie Reacted To His Old YouTube Videos Going Viral

Heated Rivalry breakout star Connor Storrie is taking the internet by storm.

People are falling hard for Ilya Rozonov (played by Connor) in Jacob Tierney's book-to-screen adaptation of Rachel Reid's popular romance novel about two rival hockey players secretly in love.

Connor's chemistry, both on and off-screen, with fellow breakout star Hudson Williams (who portrays Shane Hollander) in the hit Crave series, as well as their respective interviews, has given Connor a promising digital footprint.

However, the 25-year-old actor's digital footprint actually dates back to when he was 12 years old, under the name Actorboy222. When Heated Rivalry first blew up, fans had rediscovered his old YouTube videos and the actor's response is an excellent lesson in self-love and confidence.

In an interview with Variety, Connor had positive words for his younger self. "He was on to something," Connor said of the Actorboy 222 videos. "He got me here. He was part of it."

Connor grew up in Odessa, Texas, and apparently, it wasn't easy for a kid with his particular ambitions. "I was this artist, sissy boy in West Texas that didn't want to play football," he said. "I wanted to play pretend and play dress up and disappear into weird worlds and entertain and try to connect with people that way, and that was just not the norm out there."

If he could speak to anybody who ostracized him in the past, Connor had a somewhat forgiving answer, noting he doesn't "feel any sort of way about" being different back in high school. "I don't really villainize anyone no matter how nasty they get because I fully do believe that people are doing their best," he said. "I think that people are hurt."

"I think everyone is so insecure and sad, and we all have these things that are so tender to us," he continued. "I just feel blessed to be to have had a human experience that's been just rugged enough to give me that perspective, to be like, I don't really give a shit what words you use to describe me, or if you try to embarrass me because I've embarrassed myself a million fucking times."

"I don't give a shit anymore. So bring it on," Connor added. "I don't feel bad about it because, especially how visible everything is now on the internet, if you're a nasty person, I think that just makes you look nasty. I don't need to try and make you look nasty."

Connor shared how he tries to hold himself with grace and understanding. "If you're trying to belittle someone, it's probably because you feel pretty small yourself because I know when I've been mean in the past — we've all done things — it's because I felt this big," he said, pinching his fingers close together. "I felt itty bitty."

As someone who also grew up in a very conservative town, it's incredibly relatable to look back and have compassion for that "young artist, sissy boy" making videos instead of playing football, who might get judged by the other high school kids. Honestly, I was pretty hard on that younger version of me, but Connor's reflection has adjusted my perspective.

See, I told you he has a promising digital footprint!

You can read the full interview here.