Hudson Williams didn’t expect the response he’s received since the premiere of Heated Rivalry, especially from within the world of professional sports.
Williams, who stars in the Crave series opposite Connor Storrie, recently revealed that multiple queer athletes who are still closeted have reached out to him and the show’s creative team since the series debuted. The messages, he said, have underscored just how deeply the show is resonating beyond its core audience.
Based on Rachel Reid’s popular novel of the same name, Heated Rivalry follows Shane Hollander (Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Storrie), two elite hockey players whose fierce rivalry on the ice gives way to a secret sexual relationship that slowly develops into something far more meaningful. Spanning several years and multiple NHL seasons, the story explores ambition, intimacy and the toll of hiding one’s identity in hypermasculine spaces like professional sports.
Appearing on Andy Cohen Live this week, Williams said the series has struck a nerve with athletes who see their own lives reflected onscreen.
“Since the show came out, I’ve had professional athletes — hockey, baseball, football — reach out somewhat anonymously,” Williams said. “They’ll say, ‘I’m a professional player, still, and I’m still in the closet.’”
According to Williams, many of those messages are initially sent to Reid, who then shares them with the cast. Others come directly through private Instagram messages.
“They’re these really lovely emails,” Williams said. “Sometimes they’re just reaching out privately, and those are the ones that really hit you. You realize, yes, this is a fun, celebratory show, but it’s also touching people right at the nerve of something they’re still living through.”
That reality is reflected in the current landscape of men’s professional sports in the United States. As of September 2024, OutSports reported that none of the 4,592 rostered players across the so-called “Big Five” leagues, the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLS and MLB, are publicly out as queer. Of those leagues, the NHL stands alone in never having a current or former player come out as gay while actively on an NHL roster.
The closest the league has come is Luke Prokop, who was drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2020. Prokop came out publicly in 2021 while playing in the minors, making him the first openly gay player under contract with an NHL organization. However, he has yet to be called up to play in the NHL.
Heated Rivalry doesn’t shy away from that history. The series made a point of incorporating real LGBTQ+ representation from the hockey world by casting Harrison Browne as Connors, a teammate of Storrie’s character on the fictional Boston Raiders. Browne is a trans actor, filmmaker and former professional hockey player who made history in 2016 as the first openly trans athlete competing in a professional sport.
Browne retired in 2017 in order to physically transition, having previously avoided testosterone to comply with the National Women’s Hockey League’s anti-doping policies. He later returned for one final season from 2017 to 2018, helping the Metropolitan Riveters win the Isobel Cup.
The show’s themes have also resonated internationally. Argentinian field hockey player Nicolás Keenan, who is engaged to Dutch politician Rob Jetten, shared his reaction to the series on Instagram Stories.
“Secret love behind four walls,” Keenan wrote. “Been there, done that. Not letting Rob come to my games. Not letting him be part of my socials. Passing him on the street and acting like he was a stranger. Watching it now in the show … yeah, not proud of it.”
While Heated Rivalry has become a breakout hit, it won’t be eligible for Emmy consideration due to its status as a Canadian production. Emmy rules require non-U.S. series to be co-produced creatively and financially with U.S. partners prior to production and intended for U.S. television broadcast.
Awards eligibility aside, the series’ success is undeniable. Since debuting on HBO Max in November, Heated Rivalry has reportedly increased its U.S. viewership by nearly 400%. The show has already been renewed for a second season, signaling that its impact, both on audiences and on closeted athletes watching quietly from the sidelines, is far from over.
