KJ Apa admits shirtless scenes have been ‘uncomfortable’ forward of Riverdale finale

Riverdale star KJ Apa has admitted he “wasn’t comfortable” with a few of Archie Andrews’ shirtless scenes.

The actor has portrayed the enduring comedian e book hero for seven seasons of the CW drama, which has confirmed to be a cult hit regardless of some outlandish storylines.

Now, forward of the ultimate episode airing subsequent Wednesday, Apa has mirrored on how a lot his character was sexualized all through the present.

“I’ve been through a lot of s**t with that,” he stated. “It can mess with your head a little bit.”

Although he’s extra essential of it now, the New Zealand actor was really desirous to get his package off when he first signed on to the present.

“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 needed to keep chiseled for 10 years to painting Archie, who has labored as a firefighter, faculty instructor and miner all through the collection.

When it got here to his frequent shirtless scenes, he revealed he had a tough time talking 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 additionally needed to come to phrases with portraying a young person once more after the characters went again in time.

“My body does not look like that anymore. And suddenly this season we’re 17 again,” she stated.

Although she stated she’s “OK” with how she appears to be like 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.