KJ Apa ‘Slams’ Mr. Fantasy for Stealing His Image, Claims He’s Lost Work: ‘F***ing Liar and a Thief’

KJ Apa has officially had enough of Mr. Fantasy.

The Riverdale actor, 28, has long been suspected of being the viral TikTok star-turned-musician who blew up last year, but according to Apa, it’s all a case of identity theft.

“There has been something going on for a long time that I haven’t addressed because I didn’t think it was even worth addressing, but now because of how it’s impacted my life personally, I feel like I have to talk about it,” Apa said in an Instagram video on Wednesday, May 6. “I have to do it now because it’s hurting me and my career.”

Apa didn’t mention Fantasy by name but alluded to the musician’s recent “Do Me Right” music video, which features several of Apa’s friends and colleagues, including former Riverdale costars Camila Mendes, Lili Reinhart and Madelaine Petsch.

“There was recently a music video that was released that included a bunch of people who are really close to me by a guy who’s completely and utterly stolen my image and misappropriated my image and my likeness,” Apa said in the video. “And I think we all know who we’re talking about. It’s f***ed up. It’s f***ed up because I just lost out on a huge job and can no longer go in for serious work because people think that I’m a joke because of this guy.”

He continued, “I don’t know what to do about it other than bring it here and do everything that I can to protect myself because it’s completely f***ing disrespectful and completely wrong to do that. If anyone out there thinks that it’s OK to take someone’s image, literal tattoos, and use it for their own success, [you are] completely wrong. I can’t just sit back and watch it happen and see my life, literally everything that I’ve worked hard for, now come to a halt because of this f***ing idiot. That’s all I’ll say.”

Apa concluded his video, “This person advocates for positivity and for kindness and all this stuff … Look in the mirror and tell yourself that you’re not a f***ing liar and a thief. Because that’s exactly what you are.”

In the comments section of Apa’s video, the star’s friends played along weighed in with messages of consolation.

“Hi, I am really sorry I agreed to do the music video with him,” commented Zoey Deutch. “I had no idea it was affecting your life like this. I obviously won’t engage anymore with him and just feel really bad about the whole thing. I hope you can accept my apology.”

“Identify theft is not a joke,” added Madelyn Cline.

Mr. Fantasy has yet to respond to Apa, but the musician — known for his black bob and, er, noticeable teeth — has previously downplayed the resemblance between him and Apa.

“Not bothered by it, not bothered by it,” he said of comparisons between them in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in November 2025. “Things bother me sometimes, but I keep my eyes upward, and I keep trudging the happy road of happy destiny. You know, things can be hurtful, sure, but I focus on the positive. I focus on the people whom I love and who love me and that have a positive influence on my life, like James Franco.”