KJ Apa Recalls Cole Sprouse's ‘Wake-Up Punch’ During Difficult Period

KJ Apa has revealed that his Riverdale costar Cole Sprouse once punched him in the face during a night out—a moment he now describes as an act of tough love.

Speaking on the Wildmen podcast with Brendan Columbus and Cole’s twin brother, Dylan Sprouse, Apa recalled the incident, which happened at a strip club while he was struggling with drug use.

“He punched me in the face,” Apa said, explaining that Cole had recently learned he had started using drugs again. “It was a love punch.”

Dylan Sprouse, who witnessed the altercation, joked that Apa “ran like an ostrich” after the punch and was several blocks away before he could catch up. He eventually reached Apa by phone, only to find the actor in tears.

According to Apa, Cole’s actions came from genuine concern. “At this time, I was doing a lot of drugs and a lot of my close friends were worried about me,” he said. Dylan agreed, calling it “a wake-up punch,” a description Apa echoed.

Dylan also reflected on the close bond the two actors formed while filming Riverdale, which ran for seven seasons from 2017 to 2023. He said Cole often told him he was grateful to have Apa by his side while living and working in Vancouver, adding that their friendship reassured him his brother had someone he could rely on.