Since the premiere of Heated Rivalry, actor Hudson Williams has received an unexpected wave of messages — not just from fans, but from closeted professional athletes moved by the show’s portrayal of secret love and identity in the high-stakes world of pro sports.
Appearing on Andy Cohen Live this week, Williams opened up about the private, powerful notes he and the creative team have received from athletes still living in the shadows.
“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.’”
A Story That Hits Home
Heated Rivalry, based on Rachel Reid’s beloved queer hockey romance novel, follows rivals-turned-lovers Shane Hollander (played by Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (played by Connor Storrie). Their on-ice rivalry masks a years-long secret relationship that evolves into something deeper and more dangerous — a love that must survive locker room codes, public image, and personal shame.
The series, produced by Crave and now streaming on HBO Max, pulls no punches when it comes to the emotional toll of being queer in hypermasculine environments. And that authenticity, Williams says, is what has struck a chord.
“Sometimes [the messages] are just reaching out privately, and those are the ones that really hit you,” he said. “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.”
The Silence in Sports
As of late 2024, OutSports reported zero publicly out players across the five major U.S. men’s pro leagues: NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and MLS. Not one. The NHL, notably, has never had an active player come out while on a league roster.
The closest came in 2021, when Luke Prokop, then playing in the minors, came out publicly while under contract with the Nashville Predators. He has yet to be called up to the NHL.
Heated Rivalry doesn’t just reflect this silence—it challenges it.
Trans actor and former professional hockey player Harrison Browne appears as Connors, a teammate in the series. Browne made history in 2016 as the first openly trans athlete in pro team sports while playing in the National Women’s Hockey League. He later retired to transition fully, returning for one final season and helping his team win the Isobel Cup.
Global Resonance
The show’s reach has gone beyond North America. Argentine Olympic field hockey player Nicolás Keenan, who is engaged to Dutch politician Rob Jetten, shared how closely the story hit home:
“Secret love behind four walls,” Keenan wrote on Instagram. “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.”
For many viewers—athletes included—the show is a mirror. A reminder. A reckoning.
A Show That Matters, Awards or Not
While Heated Rivalry won’t be eligible for the Emmys due to its Canadian production status, its impact is already undeniable.
Since its U.S. release on HBO Max in November, the show has seen a nearly 400% increase in American viewership. It’s already been renewed for a second season.
Williams says that awards or not, the real win lies in what the show is doing off-screen:
“You just don’t expect that this little queer hockey show you’re filming could be the thing that makes someone feel seen—or makes someone a little braver. But it is.”
