"Just breaking all of our hearts," lamented one fan. "Thanks for ruining the moment," sniped another. The cause of this digital distress? Innocuous paparazzi photos of "Bridgerton" star Luke Newton leaving a London party with his real-life girlfriend, dancer Antonia Roumelioti.
So far, so normal, right? Not quite.
You see, for a segment of the fervent "Bridgerton" fandom, this simple act of reality felt like a betrayal. Why? Because they'd become deeply invested in the idea of Luke finding love with his on-screen partner-in-crime, Nicola Coughlan.
Luke and Nicola play the beloved Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, respectively, in the hit Netflix series.
Season 3 chronicled their journey from friends to lovers, a slow-burn romance that had fans (affectionately dubbed "Polin" shippers) swooning.
But somewhere along the way, the line between fiction and reality blurred. Fans, fueled by the actors' undeniable chemistry and playful banter during promotional events, became convinced that the romance extended beyond the script.
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