Connor Paolo turns down "regular" status offer on "Gossip Girl"?

Gossip gay Michael Ausiello is reporting that actor Connor Paolo, who plays gay teen Eric on Gossip Girl, has been offered "regular" character status by the show and has refused the contract offer.

It might amount to nothing more than an actor not wanting to be hemmed in by a role that hasn't been giving him too terribly much to do, but of course the Ghost of Gay Teens Past rears its ugly head whenever this kind of thing happens.

I for one hope that Eric isn't going anywhere regardless and that there are no Dekkerian underpinnings to the news.