Hudson Williams stunned veteran journalist Gayle King on the red carpet when he described his perfect first date with a blunt, three-word punchline that left her momentarily speechless.
The 24-year-old Heated Rivalry star delivered the line during live coverage of the 2026 Golden Globe Awards on January 11, moments before he and co-star Connor Storrie presented an award.
At a Glance
- Hudson Williams told Gayle King his ideal first date needs “good conversation, good laughing and good f——“
- The actor made his Golden Globes debut in a custom Giorgio Armani tuxedo and Bulgari necklace
- Williams and Storrie have gone viral promoting their hockey-rivalry romance on HBO Max
- Why it matters: The unfiltered comment quickly trended on social media, adding to the buzz around the breakout series
Williams paused, grinned, then delivered the R-rated answer. King recovered with a laugh, agreeing it “does sound like a good first date.”
Red-Carpet Fashion
Williams chose a white peak-lapel dinner jacket trimmed in grosgrain, white silk evening shirt, black trousers and a white cummerbund, all by Giorgio Armani. A Bulgari necklace added sparkle.
He told E! on the carpet that the look made him feel “great,” joking that the only overwhelming part of fame is “how many emails I get now.”
Viral Promotional Blitz
Williams and Storrie, who play rival hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, have dominated online chatter in recent months.
Their promotional tour has included:
- Viral joint interviews
- Sexy photo shoots
- A parade of party appearances
- A Jan. 7 stop on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
On the NBC program, Williams demonstrated hockey stretches and revealed the intimate wardrobe hack used for the show’s steamy scenes.
“They call it a c— sock,” he told Jimmy Fallon. “They call it a modesty garment, but by the end they just gave up on any of them.”
Fallon quipped that the episode set a record for network censorship: “the most bleeping we’ve ever done on the history of The Tonight Show.”
About Heated Rivalry
The series, adapted from Rachel Reid’s novel of the same name, follows Canadian and Russian hockey legends whose on-ice rivalry turns romantic. HBO Max streams the show, produced by Crave.
Williams plays Canadian forward Shane Hollander; Storrie, 25, portrays Russian star Ilya Rozanov.
Awards Night Details
The 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards took place at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, airing on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Williams and Storrie presented one of the evening’s trophies.
Olivia M. Hartwell reported for News Of Losangeles.
