Ever since the Prime Video adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s iconic book series Off Campus premiered, viewers have been paying close attention to the cast’s off-screen friendships and relationships. Now, fans are convinced that co-stars Mika Abdalla and Josh Heuston may be more than friends. Neither Abdalla nor Heuston has commented publicly on the speculation, so where did the rumor come from? Let’s get into it.
Abdalla (who plays Allie on Off Campus) and Heuston (who plays Justin) entertained fans with weeks of playful banter and interactions during the show’s press tour. Although most brushed off their vibe as just a good friendship between castmates, speculation that there was something more between them ramped up following news that Abdalla and her former fiancé, ex-Disney Channel star Jake Short, had ended their one-year engagement. On June 1, through an exclusive official statement issued by Abdalla’s representative to US Weekly, a source confirmed that the couple was no longer together, adding that they remain on friendly terms and continue to support one another. Neither Short nor Abdalla themselves has commented on the split — however, Short has publicly apologized for a comment he made on his podcast jokingly referring to Abdalla as “some b*tch” while they were still together, which went viral on TikTok leading up to the split.
Soon after the split, fans began revisiting Abdalla and Heuston’s press appearances while creating TikTok edits that highlight their undeniable chemistry. Commenters would point to inside jokes, flirtatious banter, and the fact that the two would often appear together during interviews and other promotional events as possible evidence of a romantic spark.Â
Adding even more fuel to the fire, on June 15, on an Australian radio show, 2DayFM Breakfast with Nath & Emma, co-host Emma Chow claimed that sources close to Heuston have confirmed that the two actors were dating. However, again, no official confirmation has come from either Abdalla’s nor Heuston’s camps, proving that the rumors remain exactly what they are: rumors.
Then, on June 22, photos of Heuston and Abdalla started making the rounds on Instagram, appearing to show the pair embracing each other while shopping, and traveling together with their other Off Campus co-stars. In the age of AI, it’s possible the photos aren’t real, and again, Abdall and Heuston have not confirmed any relationship.
The truth is, Abdalla and Heuston may simply be close friends who developed a strong bond while filming the show. That said, fans have pointed out that the pair didn’t spend much time filming together at all, as they only shared a handful of brief scenes throughout the season, making the close relationship they seem to have IRL even more noticeable to viewers.
Unfortunately, Heuston will not be in Off Campus Season 2 due to scheduling conflicts, meaning viewers shouldn’t expect any more cute public moments between him and Abdalla anytime soon — that is, unless Abdalla and Heuston choose to go public with a relationship (if there is one).