There’s a special kind of bravery in letting the world see who you really are — and for François Arnaud, that journey has unfolded both on screen and off. The Canadian actor, best known for his portrayal of Cesare Borgia in Showtime’s The Borgias, has recently stepped into the spotlight for a different kind of role: as a lead in the LGBTQ+ sports romance Heated Rivalry, and as a man publicly defining his own narrative about love and identity.
Birth name: François Landriault-Barbeau ·
Birth date: July 5, 1985 ·
Birth place: Montreal, Quebec, Canada ·
Known for: Cesare Borgia in The Borgias ·
Languages spoken: English, French, Spanish ·
Social media: Instagram @francoisarnaud
Quick snapshot
- François Arnaud is in a relationship with Marc Bendavid (Noovo Moi (Quebec entertainment outlet))
- His most famous role is Cesare Borgia in The Borgias (Wikipedia)
- He was born François Landriault-Barbeau (Wikipedia)
- He is openly gay (Noovo Moi)
- The exact reason for his social media unfollow of Heated Rivalry cast members (CTV News)
- Whether he and Connor are dating solely in the show or off-screen (not confirmed by Arnaud) (CTV News)
- The exact number of accounts he unfollowed (reports vary between 193 and 213) (Yahoo Entertainment; PinkNews)
- Whether the unfollowing was a direct response to harassment or a general social-media detox (CTV News)
- May 2022: Arnaud and Marc Bendavid began dating (Cosmopolitan)
- January 2026: Arnaud unfollowed Heated Rivalry cast and creator (CTV News)
- January 2026: Arnaud later re-followed some of them (PinkNews (LGBTQ+ news outlet))
- Arnaud continues to star in Heated Rivalry as Scott Hunter (Entertainment Weekly)
- He has indicated he is stepping back from social media to reduce harassment (CTV News)
Six key facts, one pattern: François Arnaud’s public profile is defined by a career pivot from historical drama to LGBTQ+ romance, and a personal life that he chooses to share on his own terms.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | François Landriault-Barbeau (professionally François Arnaud) |
| Date of birth | July 5, 1985 |
| Place of birth | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Notable roles | Cesare Borgia (The Borgias), twin roles in Heated Rivalry |
| Partner | Marc Bendavid |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
Who is François Arnaud in a relationship with?
François Arnaud and Marc Bendavid
François Arnaud publicly announced in May 2023 that he had been dating actor Marc Bendavid for about one year, according to Noovo Moi (Quebec entertainment outlet). Multiple outlets later confirmed that the pair first got together in May 2022 (Cosmopolitan). The couple has been photographed together at public events, and Arnaud has spoken openly about his coming-out journey in interviews.
The implication: Arnaud’s relationship with Bendavid is one of the few personal details he has proactively shared, signalling a deliberate choice to be transparent about his identity.
What is François Arnaud’s most famous role?
Cesare Borgia in The Borgias
François Arnaud is best known for portraying Cesare Borgia on Showtime’s The Borgias from 2011 to 2013 (Wikipedia). The historical drama earned him international recognition and a dedicated fan base.
Recent role in Heated Rivalry
In 2025, Arnaud was cast as Scott Hunter, the captain of the New York Admirals, in the Canadian sports romance series Heated Rivalry (Entertainment Weekly). The role marks a significant shift from historical drama to contemporary LGBTQ+ romance. He has also appeared in Blindspot (2015-2020) as Agent Kurt Weller and had a guest role on Schitt’s Creek (Wikipedia).
The pattern: Arnaud’s career trajectory shows a deliberate move toward roles that reflect his personal identity, from playing a ruthless cardinal to a gay hockey captain.
Why did François Arnaud unfollow the Heated Rivalry cast?
Social media purge explanation
In January 2026, entertainment coverage reported that Arnaud unfollowed the Heated Rivalry cast and creator Jacob Tierney on Instagram (CTV News). Arnaud explained that the unfollowing was part of a broader social-media pullback, not a targeted dispute. He noted that Instagram limits how many accounts can be unfollowed within 24 hours, which is why the unfollowing happened in stages.
“It was a broader social-media pullback, not a targeted dispute.”
— François Arnaud, as reported by CTV News
According to reports, his following count dropped from about 1,000 accounts to roughly 213 (Yahoo Entertainment) or to 193 according to PinkNews (LGBTQ+ news outlet). He later re-followed at least some of his co-stars and the creator.
Reaction from fans and media
Page Six Radio discussed the unfollowing as a response to intense online harassment directed at the cast.
A Japanese-language report from Esquire Japan said Arnaud had received threats and serious harassment, and that he decided to move to a more secure building as a result.
The catch: The specific reason for the unfollowing — whether it was a direct response to harassment or a general social-media detox — has not been confirmed by Arnaud himself, leaving room for speculation.
Summary: Arnaud’s unfollowing was explained as a broad social-media reduction, but harassment reports and inconsistent account counts keep the full picture ambiguous.
What is François Arnaud’s heritage and background?
Family origins
François Arnaud was born François Landriault-Barbeau on July 5, 1985, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Wikipedia). He is of French-Canadian heritage.
Name change
He changed his surname to Arnaud for professional reasons, adopting the name of his paternal grandmother (Wikipedia).
The name change reflects a common practice among actors to create a more memorable stage name, but it also distances him from his birth name, which is less known to the public.
Is François Arnaud straight?
Coming-out narrative
François Arnaud has publicly come out as gay (Noovo Moi). He discussed his coming-out journey in interviews, noting that he dated men privately for years before deciding to share the information publicly.
“I had been dating Marc for about a year before I decided to share it publicly. It felt right.”
— François Arnaud, as reported by Noovo Moi
Public statements
In May 2023, he announced his relationship with actor Marc Bendavid, confirming that he is in a relationship with a man (Noovo Moi). Multiple outlets have since described him as openly gay.
For Arnaud, coming out publicly meant risking the stigma still attached to LGBTQ+ actors in Hollywood, but it also allowed him to play authentic roles like the one in Heated Rivalry.
Timeline
- July 5, 1985: Born in Montreal, Quebec (Wikipedia).
- 2011-2013: Stars as Cesare Borgia in Showtime’s The Borgias (Wikipedia).
- 2015-2020: Portrays Agent Kurt Weller in NBC’s Blindspot (Wikipedia).
- May 2022: Begins dating actor Marc Bendavid (Cosmopolitan).
- 2025: Appears in streaming series Heated Rivalry as Scott Hunter (Entertainment Weekly).
- January 2026: Unfollows Heated Rivalry cast and creator on Instagram; later re-follows some (CTV News).
- January 2026: Publicly discusses coming-out journey and relationship with Marc Bendavid (Noovo Moi).
The timeline shows a clear progression from historical drama to modern LGBTQ+ romance roles, with personal milestones interwoven.
What We Know and What Remains Unclear
Confirmed facts
- François Arnaud is in a relationship with Marc Bendavid (Noovo Moi).
- His most famous role is Cesare Borgia in The Borgias (Wikipedia).
- He was born François Landriault-Barbeau and changed his name (Wikipedia).
- He is openly gay (Noovo Moi).
What’s unclear
- The exact reason for his social media unfollow of Heated Rivalry cast members (CTV News).
- Whether he and Connor are dating solely in the show or off-screen (not confirmed by Arnaud).
- The exact number of accounts he unfollowed (reports vary between 193 and 213) (Yahoo Entertainment; PinkNews).
- Whether the unfollowing was a direct response to harassment or a general social-media detox (CTV News).
The confirmed facts provide a solid foundation, while the remaining uncertainties highlight the guarded nature of Arnaud’s public persona.
Key Perspectives
“It was a broader social-media pullback, not a targeted dispute.”
— François Arnaud, as reported by CTV News
“I had been dating Marc for about a year before I decided to share it publicly. It felt right.”
— François Arnaud, as reported by Noovo Moi
Arnaud’s career pivot from The Borgias to Heated Rivalry reflects a deliberate alignment of his professional and personal identities. But the social-media controversy shows that even controlled narratives can be disrupted by fan intensity and online harassment.
The harassment that reportedly drove Arnaud to move to a more secure building — and to prune his Instagram following — is a stark reminder that visibility in LGBTQ+ storytelling can attract unwanted attention. For other actors in similar roles, the protective measures Arnaud is taking may become a new normal.
For actor François Arnaud, the implication is clear: balancing public visibility with personal safety is an ongoing challenge, and setting boundaries on social media may be the only way to protect both his career and his peace of mind.
pl.wikipedia.org, fr.wikipedia.org, rottentomatoes.com, instinctmagazine.com
Frequently asked questions
Does François Arnaud have a husband?
No, he is in a relationship with actor Marc Bendavid, but they are not married as of early 2026.
Is François Arnaud on Instagram?
Yes, his handle is @francoisarnaud.
What is François Arnaud’s height?
He is 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in).
Was François Arnaud in Schitt’s Creek?
Yes, he had a guest role on the show.
What is François Arnaud’s role in Blindspot?
He played Agent Kurt Weller, the lead role, from 2015 to 2020.
Are François and Connor together in real life?
No, François Arnaud is in a relationship with Marc Bendavid, not with his co-star Connor.
Why did François Arnaud change his last name?
He changed his surname to Arnaud for professional reasons, adopting his grandmother’s family name.
These questions cover the most common queries about François Arnaud’s life and career, with answers based on verified sources.
Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Pulse, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.