Lucy Hale and Ian Harding, stars of the hit TV show Pretty Little Liars, have expressed their support for the controversial “Ezria” ship despite the characters’ now-acknowledged age difference. The pair played high school students Aria Montgomery and Ezra Fitz, who dated on and off throughout their teenage years.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Hale, 36, and Harding, 38, discussed how their characters’ relationship has been viewed differently over time. “It hits differently at my age now,” Hale said, adding that she didn’t think about the themes of the show as much when she was cast in 2011.
Harding agreed, stating that while fans questioned the age gap between the two characters, they were always on board with the storyline. “We tried to demonstrate a meaningful connection,” he said. “Hopefully, that was enough to justify the deeply problematic relationship.”
The show’s creator, I. Marlene King, 63, also addressed the controversy in her recent interview. She acknowledged that societal norms have changed since the show’s release and that the writers may have crossed some boundaries. However, King emphasized that she wanted to give Hale agency as much as possible during intimate scenes with Harding.
Harding recalled that the writers played down any suggestive elements and ramped up Hale’s sense of agency, ensuring that her character was always driving the relationship forward. Despite the controversy surrounding their characters’ age difference, both actors have expressed their love for the “Ezria” ship and their happiness with how the storyline turned out.
Source: https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/lucy-hale-and-ian-harding-defend-plls-age-gap-love-story