Hudson Williams, the 25-year-old star of the streaming hit Heated Rivalry, is facing backlash after an old photograph showing him with a swastika drawn on his forehead resurfaced over the weekend. Sources close to the actor say he is deeply regretful about the image, which appears to have been taken several years ago.
Details of the Photo
In the photo circulating on social media, Williams is seen with a group of friends, wearing a blue shirt covered in markings and writing. The markings extend to his face, including a swastika on the right side of his forehead, an upside-down cross often associated with demonic symbolism, and what appears to be the word 'Aids' scrawled on his neck.
Background and Explanation
According to sources who spoke to TMZ, the picture dates back to Williams' high school years in Canada. It was taken during an annual 'campout' tradition that often involved underage drinking and drawing on each other's shirts and bodies for shock value. The source emphasized that Williams 'had no idea' what had been drawn on his face at the time and described the incident as a group of underage kids 'doing dumb things' while under the influence.
Williams reportedly 'deeply regrets' the photo and 'understands the hurt and disappointment' it has caused. He does not 'condone or support' the offensive drawings, and a friend added: 'The markings do not and have never reflected Hudson's beliefs, values, or character.'
Rise to Fame
Williams rose to sudden stardom with his role as ice hockey player Shane Hollander in Heated Rivalry, a queer hockey romance based on Rachel Reid's popular books. He and co-star Connor Storrie, who plays Ilya Rozanov, have become Hollywood darlings, attending major events like the Oscars, the Met Gala, and the Golden Globes since the show debuted in November.
Previous Comments on Privacy
During a January appearance on Andy Cohen Live, Williams said he was relaxed about public scrutiny of his personal life. 'You can look at whatever I said, I don't care,' he stated. 'I'm pretty chill. So on a scale of freaking me out, it's like a 2 out of 10. I'm kind of indifferent to it, at the end of the day. There are going to be people who have crazy reactions to it, but those people can take a hike because the people who have a healthy reaction are the only people that I care about or really respect for having a developed frontal cortex.'
Metro has contacted representatives for Hudson Williams for further comment.
