Actor François Arnaud has publicly condemned online speculation that he is secretly in a relationship with his Heated Rivalry co-star Connor Storrie. The Canadian performer, who shot to fame playing Scott Hunter in the steamy HBO Max drama, described the intense and sometimes unsettling attention that has followed the show's runaway success.
The Perils of Overnight Fame
In a candid interview with the Toronto Star, Arnaud opened up about being thrust into the global spotlight practically 'overnight' after the show's premiere in November. While he acknowledged the fan response as largely "incredibly positive and respectful," he admitted parts of the experience have been difficult. "It's also a bit scary," Arnaud confessed, detailing the sudden loss of his anonymity. "I can't go out on the street at all without being recognized in 20 seconds. I've always valued normalcy, and so there's an adjustment period there."
The actor revealed the scrutiny has become so intense that he is now planning to move homes in Los Angeles, seeking a building with a doorman for greater privacy. He has also taken steps to limit his online presence, deleting X (formerly Twitter) from his phone and reducing his time on Instagram. "It's giving me an excuse to just log off and not pay attention to that," he stated.
Fan Theories and Backlash
The interview was prompted by a fresh wave of online rumours. Since its launch, a segment of the show's fervent fanbase has been convinced that Storrie and his on-screen love interest, actor Hudson Williams, harbour real-life feelings for each other. This speculation reached a new peak last week when photos emerged of Arnaud and Storrie boarding a plane together in New York.
This innocent travel snapshot sparked wild new theories that Arnaud and Storrie were the secret couple, which in turn led to a significant backlash directed at Arnaud from fans devoted to the Storrie-Williams pairing. Addressing these theories head-on, Arnaud suggested much of the negative attention comes from a younger audience. "For the ones that aren't [positive], I think it's a lot of younger fans who don't really understand the difference between reality and fiction," he said.
He expressed frustration that some viewers seemed to miss the core message of the show itself. "I honestly wish they would just rewatch the show, because it doesn't seem like they got its message," he quipped. "Pay attention more closely. Did we watch the same show?"
A Show's Hopeful Message Amidst the Chaos
Despite the challenges, Arnaud remains profoundly proud of his work on Heated Rivalry, the HBO Max series adapted from Rachel Reid's novels which follows the romance and rivalry between two male hockey players from Canada and Russia. He emphasised the positive impact of the show's narrative. "There's something really joyous about the show's message, something hopeful," he explained.
"We're so over-informed now. It's really hard to just look at the news at all. There are characters with struggles on the show, but ultimately, you feel that pull toward happiness." Arnaud recalled predicting the show would become a "worldwide sensation" to his agent, but confessed he never anticipated it happening with such sudden, overwhelming force.
