Heated Rivalry’s Sex Scenes Were Heavily Criticized, But The Cast Has Responded

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The new hockey romance series, Heated Rivalry, has been getting a lot of positive attention from both viewers and reviewers. People are especially talking about its portrayal of the relationship between the two main characters, Russian player Ilya Rozanov (played by Connor Storrie) and Canadian player Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams). Recently, Jordan Firstman, known for I Love LA, publicly criticized the show’s intimate scenes, and now some of the actors are speaking out in response.

What I Love LA’s Jordan Firstman Said About Heated Rivalry’s Sex Scenes

Both Heated Rivalry and I Love LA include explicit sexual content, and because they both premiered in 2025, they’ve generated a lot of discussion. Recently, Jordan Firstman, who plays Charlie on I Love LA, discussed a scene involving a sex tape during an interview with Vulture.

The journalist observed the scene felt genuinely natural, a stark difference from the more artificial sex scenes in the adaptation of Heated Rivalry. The actor then responded by criticizing those scenes from the adaptation of Rachel Reid’s novel, saying:

We really wanted to make sure the show felt authentic. After watching the first two episodes of ‘Heated Rivalry,’ I didn’t think they captured that authenticity. It just didn’t feel like how gay people actually connect intimately. There’s so little on screen that accurately portrays gay sex, and we wanted to get it right. One moment, in particular – when both characters say ‘that part’ after climaxing – is something I’m really proud of because it’s based on a real experience I had with a partner. We were obsessed with saying that phrase during a particularly intimate moment, and it just naturally came out at the same time, making us both laugh. To me, that’s a genuinely gay moment – something a straight writer likely wouldn’t think of. It’s about a specific kind of connection and intimacy that’s unique to gay relationships, and I definitely pushed to include that in the show.

Throughout the interview, Firstman frequently discussed his identity as a gay man and shared stories about gay experiences. When the interviewer praised the film Rotting as the most authentic portrayal of gay life in recent years, the actor, known for I Love LA, mentioned Heated Rivalry once more, stating:

People seem to crave intense conflict and drama. While I go to art seeking challenge and contemplation, many others simply want to be entertained, even if it means witnessing a manufactured spectacle – like seeing athletes play up a false narrative for attention.

The journalist pointed out that neither Storrie nor Williams has publicly discussed their sexual orientations, and Jacob Tierney, the showrunner of Heated Rivalry, believes there’s no need for them to do so. However, Firstman disagreed with that assessment, stating:

Honestly, I’m the type of person who will directly ask you to say what you’re thinking. Someone comfortable with who they are would. I don’t respect you prioritizing your career over being true to yourself, especially because you’re worried about how others might perceive your sexuality.

Following widespread news coverage coinciding with the release of Episode 4 of the hockey romance series Heated Rivalry, two of the show’s leads have spoken out.

How The Heated Rivalry Cast Responded To The Criticism

In the aftermath of Firstman’s comments, François Arnaud, who plays Scott, a gay hockey player who was the focus of Episode 3, responded. In the comments section on Just Jared’s Instagram post about these criticisms, he posted two questions about there being more than one way to portray gay sex on TV. The Scott actor wrote:

Does TV portray ‘authentic’ gay sex in a limited way? Should the intimate moments of gay characters always look the same, regardless of their backgrounds or lifestyles? For example, should the sex life of a closeted athlete be depicted the same way as that of an openly gay man in a vibrant city?

After that comment, Hudson Williams, who plays Shane, reposted it alongside the graphic from Just Jared about the viral criticism on his Instagram story. Along with adding the questioning comment his co-star wrote, the Heated Rivalry co-lead complimented Jordan Firstman’s show, writing:

But truly go watch ‘I Love LA’! Jordan and the cast are great!!

As a big fan of TV, I’m happy to share that you can currently stream both I Love LA and Heated Rivalry on HBO Max. And the good news doesn’t stop there – both shows have been picked up for second seasons! I’m definitely excited to see what happens next, and I’ll be sure to keep you in the loop as more news comes out.

You can stay up-to-date with both shows by watching new episodes of Heated Rivalry on Fridays, and I Love LA on Sundays at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

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2025-12-13 20:39