Heated Rivalry’s Hudson Williams Details DMs From Closeted Athletes

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Hudson Williams has been scoring some meaningful private messages.

The actor known for his role in Heated Rivalry shared that he’s received many direct messages from LGBTQ+ athletes who are currently not open about their sexuality. They reached out to express their gratitude for his portrayal of Shane Hollander, a closeted gay hockey player, in the Crave/HBO Max series, where he stars opposite Connor Storie (played by Ilya Rozanov).

Hudson shared that he’s been receiving messages from current professional athletes who haven’t publicly come out as LGBTQ+. These athletes are reaching out anonymously, and Hudson says author Rachel Reid also receives similar emails, which she then shares with him.

The 24-year-old explained that athletes – hockey, football, and basketball players – have been contacting him, often through private Instagram messages. He said these personal messages are particularly meaningful, showing that while people enjoy the show, it also clearly resonates with them on a deeper, more emotional level.

Since the show started streaming on HBO Max six weeks ago, Hudson has experienced a lot more than just gratitude. He recognizes that the incredible attention he’s received is quite unusual.

He described the success as happening very quickly, saying it felt like it happened ‘overnight’ during a January 7th interview on CNN News Central. Initially, there was only a small expectation that it might do well or be sold internationally, but the level of success has been surprisingly overwhelming.

The Canadian actor, who appears nude in several scenes of Heated Rivalry, has said the loss of privacy feels strange and that he’s had to establish boundaries with fans. He explained that while he values his connection with fans, there are limits to what’s appropriate.

In the end, Hudson—who is of Korean and white heritage—is just happy the show’s popularity will lead to more diverse representation.

In a recent interview with GQ, he expressed his hope that young Asian children would be inspired to pursue acting. He then jokingly added that he’d be happy to be a role model for the next Asian actor who ‘makes it big.’

While you’re waiting for the second season of Heated Rivalry, here are some other upcoming TV shows you might enjoy.

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2026-01-08 06:48