“Outer Banks’ Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey Aren’t Friends, Fans Think”

Rudy Pankow And Madison Bailey The characters – JJ and Kiara – are a couple Outer Banksbut fans are convinced that they aren't really close in real life. After it was revealed on Thursday, November 7, that JJ died during the series' fourth season finale, speculation about Rudy and Madison's off-screen relationship went viral.

Many fans have pointed out a scene between JJ and Kiara in Season 4 that appears to use stunt doubles. In the clip, the characters are seen cuddling, with Kiara leaning her head on JJ's chest, but the two are never seen together in the same shot. “The camera is cutting,” one fan pointed out, along with a video of the scene in question.

“This is just crazy,” another X user wrote. “The fact that Rudy and Madison refused to record it together and had to use stunt doubles just shows how unprofessional their work was. And they weren't even supposed to do anything big in this scene, just give each other a little hug.” However, there is no confirmation that the duo actually “refused” to do PDA scenes together.

JJ and Kiara didn't get together until the third season, but fans saw them as a couple from the start. Fans have theorized that the couple's respective significant others are Madison's girlfriend Mariah Linney and Rudy, 26, is dating the former assistant to the OBX director Elaine Siemek – weren't happy with how passionately viewers wanted JJ and Kiara to get together.

Both actors have defended their friends in the face of the criticism they have received. “I think a lot of people can attach a narrative to what they want to believe and then take it out on someone who doesn't deserve it,” Rudy said Cosmopolitan ahead of the series' fourth season premiere. “This is unfortunate and difficult. That’s why I spoke out – no one should go through this.”

The actor was referencing his 2021 Instagram post in which he stood up for Elaine, 28, as fans gave her a hard time. “I am here to point out the disrespect and harassment that someone I love deeply experiences on a daily basis,” Rudy wrote. “It's gotten to the point where lies are being spread and accusations are being made that go beyond normal 'hate.'” Not only is she not what she's accused of being, she's the exact opposite and even actively is. Accusing someone you don’t know of being abusive and manipulative is not okay, especially if you don’t know the relationship personally.”

Around the same time, Madison, 25, directly addressed fans who accused Mariah, 25, of creating a wedge between her and Rudy. “I see all these posts about Mariah not liking Rudy, which, I mean, that's not true,” she said on Instagram Live. “That’s simply not true. She likes both. I talked to Rudy on the phone this morning because y’all got fucking cops.”

The actress said she was really “upset” at someone who claimed Mariah was only with her for power and shouted Outer Banks Fans who wanted her to date Rudy. “We've never had a romantic relationship and you're all like, 'They belong together.' No, we don’t,” Madison insisted.

Fans now think JJ was just killed Outer Banks because Rudy and Madison no longer wanted to work together, but the show's creators said it was always the plan to let the beloved character die.

“We were pretty sure early on that it would go in that direction.” Shannon Burke told Cosmopolitan. “We thought almost right from the start of season one that one of the Pogues was going to die, and we were pretty sure it was going to be JJ. We just weren't sure when we would play this card. We knew this would be JJ's season. This is JJ's story. And we realized pretty early on, 'Okay, we're going to play this card now.'”

JJ died in Kiara's arms and both actors reflected on what it was like to film that difficult scene. “This character is a great loss and everyone will feel it,” Madison admitted. Rudy added, “I knew everyone was ready to do their best and I felt that from everyone.” Madison and I brought it and I know we crushed it. It was emotional, but I think deep down everyone agreed. ‘Let’s make a difference.’ And we did.”