Fans of Heated Rivalry have rallied behind actor Hudson Williams after he faced accusations of “queerbaiting” for revealing he has a girlfriend.
On Valentine’s Day (14 February), the 25-year-old Canadian actor — who plays Shane Hollander in the popular gay ice hockey drama — shared a heartfelt collage dedicated to his long-term partner.
Over the series of images, Williams wrote:
“With me since my 2000 gold Mazda Protege smoked and squealed and I had no job.”
His girlfriend has appeared on his Instagram previously, including in a 31 January post from Italy that featured a clip of the pair sharing an ice cream sundae.
Backlash Over ‘Queerbaiting’ Claims
Despite the post being celebratory and personal, some social media users accused Williams of queerbaiting — a term traditionally used to describe film or television marketing that teases queer storylines without delivering meaningful representation.
In recent years, however, the term has increasingly been applied to celebrities whose sexuality does not align with fan assumptions. The discourse has been widely criticised, particularly when directed at actors who portray LGBTQ+ characters.
In Heated Rivalry, Williams’ character Shane Hollander falls for Boston Raiders captain Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie.
Williams has largely kept his private life out of the spotlight and has previously addressed speculation about his sexuality, describing it as “just the nature of a celebrity”.
One critic posted on X:
“Hudson Williams only talent is queerbaiting. The entire press of his for Heated Rivalry is just making sexual gay innuendos just for him to have a girlfriend.”
Another post labelled him “GAY FOR PAY.”
Fans Push Back
However, many fans quickly defended the actor.
“He’s an actor for God’s sakes,” one person wrote.
Another added:
“People abuse the term queerbaiting too much. Nobody owes you any extra information about who they’ve slept with to prove that they’re queer. The discourse around Hudson Williams ‘queerbaiting’ is deranged and ridiculous.”
A separate supporter praised Williams’ approach to portraying queer characters:
“The way Hudson Williams has been tackling these tender and sensitive queer subjects and shown everyone that he has a real understanding of the identity he portrays yet people are still engaging with him in bad faith is so sad to me.”
The backlash echoes past controversies, including when Heartstopper star Kit Connor said he felt pressured to come out as bisexual in 2022 following similar accusations of queerbaiting.
Ongoing Debate Around the Term
The situation highlights the growing tension around representation, celebrity privacy, and fan expectations in LGBTQ+ media spaces.
While audiences increasingly seek authentic queer storytelling, many argue that demanding actors publicly define their sexuality crosses a line — particularly when the role itself is fictional.
For now, Williams appears focused on both his career and his relationship, while fans continue to debate where performance ends and personal identity begins.
