Luke Newton, the charming (and apparently, quite mischievous) star of Netflix’s “Bridgerton,” has found himself in the middle of another internet storm.

This time, it’s not because of his steamy on-screen romance with Nicola Coughlan (aka Penelope Featherington). No, Newton has taken a rather bizarre and frankly, disrespectful, turn.

In a recent Instagram post, the actor shared a series of photos, one of which shows him holding half of a photograph from a “Bridgerton” press event. The other half, the part featuring his co-star Nicola Coughlan, is missing. Newton, with a sly grin on his face, is seen holding the photo with his teeth firmly clamped down on the ripped-off portion.

"Is this a joke? Because it's not funny."

The internet, ever the judge and jury of all things celebrity, has exploded in reaction.

"What in the world is he doing?" one fan commented. "Is this a joke? Because it's not funny," chimed in another.

While the photo has sparked widespread outrage, it’s crucial to understand the context. Newton and Coughlan have been linked romantically since the release of “Bridgerton” season three, which saw their characters, Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, finally share a kiss. But the actor has been publicly dating fellow actress Antonia Roumelioti since last year, a fact that has seemingly not stopped the rumour mill from churning.

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