Off Campus stars Mika Abdalla and Josh Heuston have been snapped looking rather cosy in Paris, further fuelling romance rumours that they have begun dating. The pair are best known for playing Allie and Justin in the hit Prime Video series, and while their characters may not have a romantic connection, it appears the actors in real life have hit it off.
In snaps taken by a fan in France, Mika and Josh were seen wearing dressed-down clothes on a casual outing to a corner shop. The couple was faced away from the photographer, but in one intimate snap, Josh could be seen looking deep into her eyes while cradling her head in his palm. In another, Mika held onto Josh's arm as they chatted to the cashier and made their selections. Although they were not snapped kissing, their faces were incredibly close during one interaction, hinting that they are more than just friends.
Rumours Begin After Mika's Split
The rumours first began after Mika confirmed that she had split from her fiancé, former Disney star Jake Short. A representative confirmed: “Due to recent interest in Mika’s personal life it would feel remiss to not address that her and Jake are no longer together. They continue to support each other and remain on friendly terms, and kindly ask for privacy and respect.”
When fans learned of this, particular scrutiny was paid to Mika's interactions with Josh over their press tour promoting Off Campus, which saw the two stars frequently paired together despite their characters having very few interactions on screen. In press junkets, Josh and Mika's effortless chemistry was blatant, as was their fun banter with one another, with Josh frequently praising Mika's character and her various skills.
Social Media Posts and Airport Snaps
Additionally, snaps began appearing on social media of the pair hanging out outside of the press tour, with Josh pushing Mika on a luggage carrier throughout an airport and the duo choosing to sit next to each other on flights. The new romance drama attracted a huge fanbase when it premiered on May 13, and is based on Elle Kennedy's viral book series of the same name. The show follows a collection of love stories unfolding at the fictional Briar University.
Negativity and Harassment Online
The interest in the series also led to negativity online aimed at the partners of the stars of the show. Namely, Belmont Cameli's relationship with writer Raina Morris was at the centre of social media scrutiny, receiving hateful and racist comments online. There was also hate aimed at Mika's former partner Jake after a video resurfaced of him describing his then fiancée Mika in two words - "some b***h".
This backlash led to Jake and Mika releasing a joint statement to Us Weekly: "We’ve seen a conversation around clips of us together when we were in a relationship, and people making harmful and inaccurate assumptions about our dynamic. We were in a loving, respectful relationship for five years [and] it’s hurtful to see playful moments dissected in a way that does not reflect the respect and love we had and still have for each other."
Amazon Issues Harassment Warning
Amazon in turn hit fans with a harassment warning, urging them to be respectful to the stars of the show: "The Off Campus community is built on a shared love of storytelling - and on respect for real people who bring it to life," the streaming giant wrote on Instagram. "We ask that everyone in this space extend that respect to our cast and the people in their lives." The post continued: "Accounts that engage in targeted harassment will be removed from following our accounts."
Season Two Filming Underway
Filming for season two of Off Campus has officially now begun, with the season set to focus on Allie (played by Mika) and Dean (played by Stephen Kalyn). Josh will not be returning for the second season of the show as his character arc was wrapped up in season one. All eight episodes of Off Campus Season 1 are streaming now on Prime Video.
