Hudson Williams, the 24-year-old star of the hit series Heated Rivalry, has disclosed that closeted professional athletes from hockey, football, and basketball have reached out to him after the show's debut. The actor, who plays secretly gay hockey player Shane Hollander in the Crave/HBO Max adaptation, shared the revelations during an interview on Andy Cohen's SiriusXM show Radio Andy.
Williams explained that athletes have contacted him through anonymous emails relayed by author Rachel Reid, as well as private Instagram messages. 'Those ones are the ones that really just kind of hit you,' he said, adding that while the show is celebratory, it also strikes a nerve for those still in the closet.
The series, based on Reid's Game Changers book series, concluded its first season last month and has already been renewed for a second. It follows Williams and co-star Connor Storrie as two professional hockey players navigating a secret romance amid their careers.
Despite the show's success, there has never been an openly gay NHL player. Luke Prokop, who came out in 2021 while under contract with the Nashville Predators, still plays in the AHL. He recently told the New York Times that he fears being seen as a 'distraction' by NHL teams.
Former professional goaltender Brock McGillis, who came out as gay in 2016, expressed concerns that the show might have an adverse effect. 'I don't think many hockey bros are going to watch it,' he told PinkNews, adding that if they do, they are unlikely to discuss it positively.
