how did carroll o'connor feel about his relationship with harriet delong character in The Heat of the Night

Carroll O’Connor appears to have been genuinely positive about the Bill Gillespie–Harriet DeLong relationship, treating it as a natural evolution for the character rather than a gimmick. He said the two characters “liked each other” and had grown into a relationship through “insight and enlightenment,” and he also noted that the attraction was played with emotional realism rather than heavy romance.

What he seemed to think

• He saw Gillespie as a character who had changed over time, making the relationship believable.

• He framed the romance as something that developed from mutual affection and shared humor.

• He kept the physical side understated, emphasizing feelings and character growth instead.

How he described it

O’Connor’s comments suggest he was comfortable with the interracial relationship and thought it fit the story’s progression. He even brushed off the controversy in a plainspoken way: the characters liked each other, so the relationship made sense to him.

Audience reaction

The relationship was not universally popular with viewers; some liked it and some did not, and mail about it reflected that split. Still, the storyline was allowed to develop gradually and ended up becoming one of the show’s most talked-about elements.

In one line

He seemed to respect and support the Harriet DeLong relationship, seeing it as a mature, earned part of Gillespie’s arc rather than a stunt.

TL;DR: O’Connor liked the pairing and viewed it as a believable love story built on character change, not shock value.