Riverdale star KJ Apa has admitted he “wasn’t comfortable” with some of Archie Andrews’ shirtless scenes.
The actor has portrayed the iconic comic book hero for seven seasons of the CW drama, which has proven to be a cult hit despite some outlandish storylines.
Now, ahead of the final episode airing next Wednesday, Apa has reflected on how much his character was sexualized throughout the show.
“I’ve been through a lot of s**t with that,” he said. “It can mess with your head a little bit.”
Although he’s more critical of it now, the New Zealand actor was actually eager to get his kit off when he first signed on to the show.
“At first, as a young child, which is what I was, I thought it was cool — you almost want the opportunity to be shirtless,” he shared to Variety.
“I was like, ‘Yeah, let me take my shirt off. Boom!’ And then you gotta consistently stay in incredible shape. It takes a toll.”
Apa had to stay chiseled for 10 years to portray Archie, who has worked as a firefighter, school teacher and miner throughout the series.
When it came to his frequent shirtless scenes, he revealed he had a hard time speaking up about his complaints.
“Even saying that I didn’t feel comfortable I had a hard time with,’” he recalled.
“I thought people would be like, ‘Why not? Just f**king do it, bro.’”
Apa’s co-star Lili Reinhart, who portrays Betty Cooper, has also had to come to terms with portraying a teenager again after the characters went back in time.
“My body does not look like that anymore. And suddenly this season we’re 17 again,” she said.
Although she said she’s “OK” with how she looks now, Reinhart expressed: “It’s this weird feeling, like you have to fit yourself back into this box that you presented to the world when we first stepped into these characters.
“Just being an actor in general, you feel like you’re holding yourself to a consistent standard of I must not age, and I must continue to look like I did.”
Riverdale concludes Wednesday, August 23 on The CW.
