PLL’s Lucy Hale Addresses Her Character’s “Problematic” Relationship

In other words, the Hating Game star reunited with Harding on social media in advance of their new film, 12 Dates of Christmas, to commemorate the beginning of their real-life connection, instead of the torrid fictional romance.

As she put it, “The video was actually more about Ian and I’s friendship, not glamorizing anything.”

Hale previously addressed her take on why Aria and Fitz—who get married by the series’ finale—story needed to be included.

“My character dated her teacher, and that’s been a little controversial, especially lately,” she remarked during a Sept. 21 episode of On Purpose With Jay Shetty. “But like, this came out in 2010, so of course she would date her teacher. That’s what happened in the book, so it should happen in the show.”

As such, Hale concluded that’s a plotline she’d prioritize addressing if the original cast—including Ashley Benson, Shay Mitchell and Troian Bellisario—returned for a follow-up series.

“People loved that relationship because it was forbidden romance,” she noted, adding, “but it’s just interesting how much we’ve evolved as humans that I feel like that would be the first thing we’d have to address on the show.”

Need more nostalgia? Keep reading for more reunions of your favorite TV casts.