Tyriq Withers Defends His 'Chronically Online' Reputation: 'God Forbid I Do Research' (Exclusive) Latoya Gayle, Stephanie SengweMon, March 23, 2026 at 2:00 AM UTC 0 Tyriq Withers on March 15, 2026Credit: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic Tyriq Withers addressed his reputation for being "chronically online" while attending the NAACP Image Awards Withers told PEOPLE he enjoys scrolling for research purposes and engaging with fans who appreciate his work The actor is currently starring in Reminders of Him, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's 2022 bestselling book Tyriq Withers is addressing assumptions about h...
Tyriq Withers Defends His 'Chronically Online' Reputation: 'God Forbid I Do Research' (Exclusive)
Latoya Gayle, Stephanie SengweMon, March 23, 2026 at 2:00 AM UTC
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Tyriq Withers on March 15, 2026Credit: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic -
Tyriq Withers addressed his reputation for being "chronically online" while attending the NAACP Image Awards
Withers told PEOPLE he enjoys scrolling for research purposes and engaging with fans who appreciate his work
The actor is currently starring in Reminders of Him, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's 2022 best-selling book
Tyriq Withers is addressing assumptions about his social media habits.
While attending the NAACP Image Awards at the Pasadena Civic Center on Feb. 28, the 27-year-old actor spoke exclusively to PEOPLE about how social media platforms help him get into character.
Withers said that people assume he's always online because of his interactions with fans and that they don't realize social media is also a necessary tool for his career.
"People say I'm chronically online. God forbid I do research. God forbid, I like to just scroll a little bit," said Withers, who is currently starring in Reminders of Him — a movie about a woman named Kenna (Maika Monroe) who finds a forbidden romance while attempting to rebuild her life after a accident caused the death of her boyfriend (Rudy Pankow).
Tyriq Withers at the NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 28, 2026Credit: Leon Bennett/Getty
He continued, "I appreciate people who appreciate the art, and I like to engage. And yes, I can lock in and do the serious movies, but I can also be a goofball because nothing matters. I'm just here to continue to be myself."
Withers' role in Reminders of Him comes after his roles in 2025's I Know What You Did Last Summer and in the football horror flick Him.
The actor also revealed he doesn't engage in private chats.
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When asked how his DMs look, he said, "Oh, I don't even know. I don't go into that place. That place is an abyss."
Withers concluded, "I post and I get off TikTok, I mean, get off Instagram, and I go about my business."
Maika Monroe as Kenna and Tyriq Withers as Ledger in 'Reminders of Him' (2026)Credit: Universal Studios
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The actor previously addressed being coined an "internet boyfriend."
"Those are your words. I never signed up for that," said Withers in a conversation with PEOPLE at the Reminders of Him premiere. "I think the beautiful thing about it is I just show up to these interviews and just bring myself, and I'm just glad people resonate with that."
He added. "It is validating that you don't have to be anybody else but yourself."
Reminders of Him debuted in theaters on March 13.
on People
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: March 23, 2026 at 01:45AM on Source: PRIME TIME
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