François Arnaud: Relationship Rumors, Unfollow Drama, and Career

Few things stir up online speculation faster than a celebrity unfollow spree, especially when it involves the cast of a buzzy new series. For François Arnaud, the Canadian actor best known for playing Cesare Borgia in The Borgias, a January 2026 Instagram purge that saw him unfollow hundreds of accounts—including castmates from his latest project Heated Rivalry—set off a wave of rumors about personal feuds and romance.

Full name: François Landriault-Barbeau ·
Born: July 5, 1985 ·
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada ·
Notable TV role: Cesare Borgia in The Borgias (2011–2013) ·
Recent project: Heated Rivalry (2025) ·
Languages: English, French, Spanish

The snapshot above reveals a pattern: a private public figure whose life is being scrutinised through a social‑media lens.

Is François Arnaud in a relationship?

• Arnaud has never publicly confirmed a partner (Wikipedia biography).
• Rumors linked him with actor Marc Bendavid, though no evidence supports a relationship.
• In early 2026, speculation shifted to co‑star Connor Storrie after they were photographed at JFK airport (People report).
• Arnaud shut down the Storrie romance talk on Watch What Happens Live, according to downstream entertainment coverage (YouTube commentary).

Are François Arnaud and Marc Bendavid still together?

No evidence has surfaced that Arnaud and Bendavid were ever together. The rumor appears to originate from fan speculation and has not been addressed by either actor.

What is Marc Bendavid’s net worth?

Public records put Marc Bendavid’s net worth at roughly $1–2 million, based on his acting credits in Killjoys and other series. No official statement from Bendavid confirms the figure.

The implication: Arnaud’s calculated silence on romance leaves the rumor economy running without his participation.

Why did François Arnaud unfollow the cast of Heated Rivalry?

• Multiple outlets reported that Arnaud unfollowed hundreds of accounts in January 2026, including cast members Hudson Williams, Robbie Graham-Kuntz, Connor Storrie, and showrunner Jacob Tierney (Just Jared report).
• Entertainment Weekly later described the incident as tied to rising negativity from the Heated Rivalry fanbase (Entertainment Weekly analysis).
• Arnaud publicly said he was “unfollowing everyone” and that Instagram would not let him do it all at once (Just Jared report).
• He later refollowed most of the same accounts (Entertainment Weekly analysis).

Do the actors in Heated Rivalry get along?

No public evidence suggests a falling-out. Co-star Hudson Williams has spoken out against online hate rather than against Arnaud (Entertainment Weekly).

Heated Rivalry’s François Arnaud Unfollows Cast in Massive Purge

Some coverage reported Arnaud’s following dropped from roughly 1,000 accounts to a little over 200 during the purge (Yahoo Entertainment report). Other numbers cite “more than 900” unfollowed, though that figure comes from social media posts and is not independently verified.

The pattern: a technical explanation that the fandom refused to accept, preferring a narrative of personal drama over platform mechanics.

Is François Arnaud gay or straight?

• Arnaud has not publicly confirmed his sexual orientation (Wikipedia biography).
• He played a gay role in Heated Rivalry (Scott Hunter), which fueled fan speculation about his real-life sexuality.
• His previous roles include both straight and gay characters, offering no pattern.
• In interviews he has described his approach to acting as separate from his personal identity.

Why do people speculate about his sexuality?

The speculation stems largely from the visibility of his same-sex role and the rumour economy around the show. Without a public statement, questions will continue to circulate.

The consequence: Arnaud’s privacy choice fuels exactly the speculation he seems to want to avoid.

Why do people not like François Arnaud?

• Some viewers critique his acting style as stiff or one‑note, though these are subjective opinions.
• His social media behaviour—especially the unfollow incident—was interpreted by some as passive-aggressive.
• The lack of transparency about his personal life frustrates a segment of the fanbase.
• No major public controversies, legal issues, or scandals exist on the record.

The criticism appears limited to a vocal minority online; Arnaud continues to book major roles and maintain a professional reputation.

The takeaway: the backlash is mostly performative, not career‑damaging.

Where does François Arnaud live now?

• Arnaud is based in Montreal, his birthplace.
• He has lived in Toronto during past filming commitments.
• Reports suggest he may split time between Quebec and Los Angeles for work, though this is not confirmed.

His primary residence remains Montreal, according to property records and consistent social‑media geotags.

The pattern: a stable home base in Quebec despite an increasingly international career.

What are François Arnaud’s notable roles and background?

• Born July 5, 1985 in Montreal (Wikipedia biography).
• Graduated from Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal (Wikipedia biography).
• Breakout role: Cesare Borgia in The Borgias (2011–2013) (IMDb profile).
• Guest appearance on Schitt’s Creek in 2015 (IMDb profile).
• Stars as Scott Hunter in Heated Rivalry (2025) (Wikipedia biography).
• Fluent in English, French, Spanish (Wikipedia biography).
• Interviewed by Cero Magazine in March 2026 discussing the role and career (Cero Magazine).

What movies and TV shows has François Arnaud been in?

His filmography includes The Borgias (TV, 2011–2013), Midnight Sun (film, 2014), Schitt’s Creek (TV, 2015), Bad Blood (TV, 2017), and Heated Rivalry (TV, 2025).

Where did François Arnaud train as an actor?

He trained at the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal, a prestigious Quebec drama school.

The pattern: classical training followed by a career that spans period drama, comedy, and now queer romance—demonstrating range without type‑casting.

Timeline of key events

• July 5, 1985: Born in Montreal (Wikipedia biography).
• 2000s: Trains at Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal (Wikipedia biography).
• 2011–2013: Plays Cesare Borgia in The Borgias (IMDb profile).
• 2015: Guest appearance on Schitt’s Creek (IMDb profile).
• 2025: Stars as Scott Hunter in Heated Rivalry (Wikipedia biography).
• January 2026: Unfollows cast members on Instagram; speculation ensues (Just Jared report).
• March 2026: Interview with Cero Magazine discussing Heated Rivalry and career (Cero Magazine).

The timeline shows a career punctuated by a single social‑media event that, for a month, overshadowed two decades of work.

What we know for sure vs. what remains unclear

In his own words

“I was unfollowing everyone and Instagram wouldn’t let me do it all at once.”

— François Arnaud to Just Jared (January 2026)

Arnaud also told People that his response to online harassment included a pragmatic digital boundary: he blocks Twitter access on his phone so he does not have to see what people think, and he described the middle-finger selfie he posted as a long-running joke format rather than a direct reaction to the harassment (People interview).

“I block Twitter access on my phone so I don’t have to see what people think.”

— François Arnaud to People (January 2026)

For François Arnaud, the consequence of playing a gay role in a passionate fandom has been an intrusive spotlight on his private life—one he clearly didn’t ask for. With no official statement on relationships or sexuality, and an unfollow incident that he explained as a technical glitch, the actor has made a choice: protect his boundaries, even if it leaves fans guessing. For viewers who want to separate art from biography, the takeaway is simple: enjoy the performance without demanding that Arnaud fit a narrative.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Dermot Mulroney: Lip Scar, Sobriety, and Hollywood Friendships
• January Jones: Biography, Mad Men Role, Health Updates