Your favorite red-head isn’t just in Riverdale anymore. Fox has reportedly replaced YouTuber Kian Lawley with KJ Apa for the role in The Hate U Give, according to HelloGiggles.
 Lawley was fired from his role just a couple months ago, as Entertainment Weekly noted after a video of the influencer surfaced where he was making racist remarks. But, have no fear, KJ Apa is here, and he’s ready to step up to the plate.
Since Lawley’s firing, he has come out with a video response, which he posted on his personal YouTube channel, apologizing for his past actions. The star also tweeted about his firing, saying that he’s “learned a lot.”
if u don’t learn from ur mistakes, u can never grow as a person.
i’ve learned a lot & i am grateful to have the power to change. i never want to be who i was yesterday. we’re in a constant battle to become a better version of ourselves, use ur voice as ur weapon.
— Kian Lawley (@KianLawley) February 4, 2018
The movie, based on the book by the same name by Angie Thomas, revolves around a young black female, Starr Carter who witnesses her childhood best friend, Khalil, get shot and killed by a police officer. Carter decides to fight for justice for her late friend. Apa will play Carter’s boyfriend, Chris.Â
Thomas, who previously mentioned how painful the situation surrounding Lawley was, gave Apa a shoutout via Twitter in light of his hiring for the film.
Welcome aboard @kj_apa! https://t.co/x4U8xbmv9W
— T’ChAngie Thomas Doesn’t Cast Films is “on hiatus” (@angiecthomas) April 4, 2018
As a fan of Riverdale, I’m excited to see Apa in a different role, not to mention on the big screen. Congrats, Archiekins.