A moment of awkward hilarity unfolded on the red carpet at the 2025 Golden Globes when a young actor's risqué joke sailed straight over the head of a veteran broadcaster.
The Red Carpet Exchange That Sparked Laughter
The incident occurred at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, ahead of Sunday's ceremony. Hudson Williams, the 24-year-old star of the hit series Heated Rivalry, was being interviewed by 71-year-old CBS Mornings host Gayle King. Their chat took an unexpectedly cheeky turn.
King enthusiastically explained to Williams how excited fans were for his arrival alongside his co-star, Connor Storrie. "There's been buzz the whole night - I'm not exaggerating - it has been, 'They're coming! They're coming! They're coming! They're coming!'" King told the actor.
Seizing the opportunity for a double entendre, Williams smirked and replied, "Yeah, we do that a lot." The actor's clear sexual innuendo, however, was met with a blank. King failed to acknowledge the joke and simply continued with her line of questioning, asking, "Throughout the whole evening, people are saying, 'Are they here?' I wonder what this moment feels like to you?"
From Overwhelming to Gratifying for Rising Star
Williams, perhaps realising his joke had not landed, smoothly shifted back to a more earnest tone. He described the experience as initially overwhelming but now becoming more gratifying. "I'm just thankful, I'm meeting people who I really admire and respect and I'm able to talk about the thing I love talking about... acting, film," he said.
A clip of the entire exchange was quickly shared on X, formerly Twitter, where it went viral. Fans of the show and observers of the awards season spectacle were left in stitches by the generation gap humour and King's oblivious reaction.
The Show's Impact Extends Beyond Entertainment
Heated Rivalry, adapted from Rachel Reid's novel series, explores a romance between Canadian and Russian hockey players. It has become a major pop culture talking point in both North America and the UK since its first season aired.
Williams, who plays heartthrob Shane Hollander, recently revealed the show's profound impact. Speaking to Andy Cohen on SiriusXM, he disclosed that multiple closeted professional athletes have reached out to him and author Rachel Reid since the show's premiere.
"It's definitely the people who reach out, somewhat anonymously, who are like, 'I'm a professional player, and I'm still in the closet,'" Williams stated. He confirmed that players from hockey, basketball, and football have made contact, often via Reid who relays messages.
"Those are the ones that hit you," Williams reflected. "Oh, so this is a fun show and it's celebratory, but also sometimes it's just hitting people right in the nerves." This revelation adds a layer of social significance to the series that contrasts sharply with the light-hearted red carpet banter that has now also cemented its place in the awards season spotlight.
