Actor Chase Stokes has publicly condemned online trolls who targeted his girlfriend, country singer Kelsea Ballerini, in the comments section of her recent TikTok post.
Clapping Back on TikTok
The incident occurred on Monday when the 32-year-old singer used the platform to promote her song People Pleaser. The post prompted a series of unwelcome comments that referenced Stokes and his ex-girlfriend, Madelyn Cline, his 27-year-old Outer Banks co-star.
Stokes, 33, did not hesitate to respond. He directly addressed the negativity, writing, 'These comments are f***ing weird. Grow up.' While the exact comments appear to have been deleted, a source indicated to People magazine that fans had been posting photos of Stokes and Cline on Ballerini's page.
One social media user summarised the situation, stating, 'OBX fans were posting nonsense and Chase called them out so they deleted it.'
Music and Speculation
The online drama is further fuelled by speculation surrounding Ballerini's new EP, Mount Pleasant. Fans believe that at least one track, specifically Emerald City with its lyrics about envy, is a direct reference to Cline.
This theory was echoed in the negative comments on TikTok, with one person accusing Ballerini of calling Madelyn a 'red flag' in her music. The comment read, 'So now it's ok for Kelsea to be calling Madelyn a red flag... I'm sure Madelyn is pissed at you both, Chase and Kelsea. Idiots.'
A Rekindled Romance
This public defence of his partner comes amid reports that Stokes and Ballerini have rekindled their romance. According to Us Weekly, the couple, who split in September after two years of dating, are now 'back together.'
A source close to the pair revealed that they 'never really stopped' talking after their brief separation. 'Kelsea wanted to give it another chance and missed Chase a lot,' the insider shared, adding, '[Chase] never wanted the break-up. He always felt there was something between them.'
The couple were spotted looking 'really happy and smiley' and 'very much loved-up' during an outing near Edinburgh Castle in Scotland in October, an eyewitness told the publication. Having worked through some of their issues, both entertainers are said to be hopeful for their future together.
