Heated Rivalry breakout stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie stepped onto the Golden Globes stage together on January 11, presenting an award and teasing the show’s next chapter.
At a Glance
- Williams, 25, and Storrie, 24, presented Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series to Adolescence star Erin Doherty
- The pair joked about first-time nerves and the show’s steamy reputation
- Crave green-lit season two after HBO Max success
- Why it matters: The LGBTQ+ hockey drama is driving mainstream awards buzz and real-world conversations about closeted pro athletes
The Beverly Hilton crowd saw the actors arrive side-by-side after a UFC-heavy security sweep. Storrie opened with a sheepish admission: “It’s a little nerve-racking here being here at our first Golden Globes.” Williams shot back, urging his co-star to “just take a deep breath and picture everyone in the audience, you know. . . .”
Storrie deadpanned that the underwear trick fails because “everyone’s seen us seen us naked.” He then saluted the audience who have streamed the series: “Their trainers have, and their moms have, and their daughters have.” Williams waved to the camera: “Hi moms! Hi daughters!”
Globes Weekend Reunion
Photos captured the duo at multiple pre-parties, fueling fan chatter about Shane and Ilya’s off-screen chemistry. On the red carpet Williams told E!’s Zuri Hall that the pair “had chemistry instantly,” calling Storrie “expressive.”
From Page to Phenom
Heated Rivalry adapts Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels, tracking Canadian captain Shane Hollander and Russian rival Ilya Rozanov as they hide a relationship inside pro hockey’s testosterone-charged world. The first-season finale dropped December 26 on HBO Max; Crave quickly announced a second-season order.
Creator Jacob Tierney shepherded the adaptation, which Reid celebrated in a Macleans essay: “It was unlikely that this show would become a runaway hit, but I’m glad people are enjoying it so much. I hope the success of Heated Rivalry encourages publishers to not only seek out queer romances, but to promote them far and wide.”
Locker-Room Fallout
During a Sirius XM chat with Andy Cohen, Williams revealed that current pro athletes have flooded him and Reid with anonymous messages: “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.'”
The notes span leagues-hockey, football, basketball-and arrive privately via Instagram or through Reid’s inbox. “Those ones are the ones that really just kind of hit you and go, ‘Oh, so this is a fun show, and it’s celebratory, but also sometimes it’s just hitting people right in the nerve,'” Williams said.
What’s Next
The series continues streaming on HBO Max while Crave develops season two. News Of Losangeles‘s coverage of the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards placed the show at the center of this year’s water-cooler moments, proving a niche romance can skate into mainstream awards glory.
Key Takeaways
- Heated Rivalry’s Globes spotlight signals a shift in which LGBTQ+ stories break into prestige TV circles
- Real athletes credit the drama for opening dialogue about sexuality in locker rooms
- Season two production is underway, promising more on-ice action and off-ice stakes
