Ask any Chicago Fire fan what “Stellaride” means, and they’ll immediately be able to tell you that the term was coined by fans who ship Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide. The longtime couple are one of the most iconic couples in TV history, and their ship name is just as iconic.
Perhaps that’s why it’s so surprising to know that Chicago Fire’s newest addition to the cast has no idea what Stellaride is.
In a new Instagram post, Jocelyn Hudon quizzed season 14 newcomer Brandon Larracuente (Sal Vasquez) about his One Chicago knowledge. Starting with what was intended to be a softball question, Hudon asked Larracuente what Stellaride means, a question that left him stumped.
“I gotta say, I have no clue. Not even the slightest clue,” Larracuente confessed in response as Hudon proceeded to then explain the meaning of the term. The light bulb quickly went off after Hudon explained how the term was coined, and he then proceeded to show off his One Chicago knowledge by correctly guessing several other questions thrown his way.
Fans couldn’t get over the fact that Larracuente failed to correctly answer the Stellaride question, leading to some fun ribbing in the comments.
“I’m sad Brandon didn’t know what Stellaride is, but I forgive him,” wrote one fan. “Come on man she started with an easy one. You should have gotten Stellaride,” quipped another fan.
Some fans gave him a pass for being new to the franchise, while others couldn’t quite get over the fact that he was unaware of the meaning of Stellaride. “I get he’s new but how in the world does he not know Stellaride…” one puzzled fan pondered.
The sentiment was shared by many longtime viewers and die-hard Stellaride shippers, who suggested that Larracuente brush up on his Chicago Fire knowledge with a binge-watch. As one fan politely noted, “Brandon needs to do a binge-watch ! How could he not know the term Stellaride?”
Of course, it was all in good fun and fans loved getting to see Chicago Fire’s newest addition have some fun between filming with his costar. With 14 seasons worth of history, we’ll give Larracuente a pass on his lack of Stellaride knowledge this time, but we’re definitely going to need him to get that answer correct the next time someone quizzes him about Stellaride’s origin!
You can check out the full video below and have some fun testing your own One Chicago knowledge as you play along:
Chicago Fire season 14 resumes on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 9/8c on NBC!