‘Ghosting is cowardly’: ‘Heated Rivalry’ star Kaden Connors spills the tea on Toronto dating

Heated Rivalry’s Sasha may be a party boy and a bit of a walking red flag, but off-screen, Toronto-based actor Kaden Connors reveals he has some dating red flags of his own.

For this edition of This is Dating Now, Connors is spilling the tea on what it’s really like dating in Toronto.

Vancouver-born actor Kaden Connors has appeared in the first season of Heated Rivalry and the Queer coming-of-age dark comedy Lunar Sway. He tells This is Dating Now that thanks to his own experiences dating in Toronto, and his professional experience acting in Heated Rivalry, he knows all about red flags.

‘People who can’t communicate are very frustrating’: Connors shares his top dating red flags

When asked about his own dating experiences, Connors jokes, “Oh, here we go. How long do we have?” 

He did spill the tea on what he considers red flags while dating. His first major one? Poor communicators.

“People who can’t communicate or who don’t bring the same effort are very frustrating. People who can’t communicate are very frustrating,’ Connors explained.

He adds that while it’s important to put your mental health first and take space when you need it, he really values people who follow through on their plans and show up for you, even if it’s not convenient. He says that while he is caring by nature, people often undervalue this quality.

“I feel like maybe we lost the plot a little bit,” he said.

Beyond communication and undervaluing your partner, Connors shares his biggest test for seeing if someone’s the right fit for him: how they treat waiters and other service workers.

“That will tell you everything you need to know about someone,” he explained. 

“If they can’t treat someone who is a random person they may never see again with respect and dignity, then [it’s a] no.”

Connors: Dating non-actors can be easier

Connors says that as an actor, dating people outside of the industry can be easier. Despite previously vibing with fellow creatives, Connors says dating someone else in the same industry creates competition.

“It can be great because it’s like you get my brain, we get it… but then… you can get competitive with each other,” he shared.

He has had some romance with castmates in the past, saying quality and quantity time on set can help you feel the spark and enhance on-camera chemistry.

“Sometimes you feel the spark and the worlds of what’s reality and what’s character can blend,” Connors explained.

But to make it work, you need lots of grace and patience, he added. With non-actors, it’s easier for him.

“I’ve also dated people who are not in the industry, and that’s also a joy and different, because then you’re kind of balancing each other’s strengths and weaknesses out,” he said.

‘Ghosting is cowardly’: Connors shares why he’s against the trend

So, when things are not working out, to ghost or not to ghost, is often the question for many contemporary daters. While Canadian reality TV star Dom Gabriel previously told Now Toronto he is all for ghosting, Connors is fully against the trend.

“Ghosting is cowardly. Anyone at any point can ghost; it’s not just young people,” he said. “I think there’s so much more honour in being able to have those tough conversations.”