Lucy Hale has responded to criticism surrounding her reunion with former Pretty Little Liars co-star Ian Harding after the actors recreated a romantic moment involving their controversial on-screen characters. The 37-year-old actress reunited with Harding, 40, in a social-media video shared over the weekend, recreating a familiar pose featuring Aria Montgomery and Ezra Fitz.
Although the nostalgic clip was intended to promote their upcoming Christmas film, The Twelve Dates of Christmas, some viewers questioned the decision to revisit a fictional relationship between a teenage student and her high school English teacher. Hale subsequently addressed the criticism, acknowledging that the storyline had not aged well while explaining that the video celebrated her friendship with Harding rather than their characters' romance.
Lucy Hale and Ian Harding's Reunion Reignites Debate Over Aria and Ezra
In the Instagram video, Harding lifts Hale into his arms, recreating a romantic pose from Pretty Little Liars. Hale captioned the post: 'A little older and wiser but the same two idiots!' She also teased their forthcoming Christmas romantic comedy, suggesting that further release information would be announced soon. While several fans welcomed the reunion, others criticised the decision to revisit the characters' relationship.
In Pretty Little Liars, which aired from 2010 to 2017, Hale portrayed Aria Montgomery, a 16-year-old student who became romantically involved with Ezra Fitz, her English teacher. The characters initially met at a bar before Aria discovered that Ezra worked at her school.
Despite the age difference and teacher-student power imbalance, their relationship became a central storyline, and the characters eventually married. One Instagram commenter wrote: 'It's 2026. We don't romanticize that couple anymore.'
Other viewers similarly questioned whether recreating the romantic moment risked celebrating a relationship that has faced criticism over its portrayal of an adult teacher and an underage student. However, the response was mixed, with some fans expressing excitement about seeing the former co-stars together again.
Lucy Hale Addresses Backlash and Explains Ian Harding Friendship
Following the criticism, Hale addressed viewers' concerns through Instagram Stories on Sunday, 25 October. 'It's very obvious that Aria and Ezra is problematic and it did not age well,' she acknowledged.
However, Hale emphasised that the reunion was intended to celebrate her longstanding friendship with Harding rather than endorse the fictional relationship. She explained that the actors became close while working on Pretty Little Liars and had known each other for almost 20 years.
'The video was actually more about Ian and I's friendship — not glamorizing anything,' she clarified.
The actress previously discussed the controversial storyline during a June 2025 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. At the time, Hale acknowledged that the romance might not be portrayed the same way if the series were produced today. She explained that she was 19 when cast as Aria and had not fully considered the broader implications of the relationship.
However, she also maintained that she did not regret portraying the character and continued to support the fictional love story. Harding similarly acknowledged the inappropriate nature of the teacher-student relationship while distinguishing between portraying fictional behaviour and endorsing it. The actors are now reuniting for The Twelve Dates of Christmas, a festive romantic comedy expected during the Christmas season.
Although their latest collaboration introduces a different romantic storyline, the reaction to their reunion demonstrates how Pretty Little Liars continues to generate debate nearly a decade after its conclusion. For Hale, the response has highlighted the distinction between celebrating a real-life friendship and revisiting a fictional romance that remains controversial among viewers.
