Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney slams racist hate against Hudson Williams

Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney is calling out racist abuse and toxic fan behavior directed at star Hudson Williams as the hit hockey romance continues to dominate online conversation.

Following the show’s rapid rise in popularity, several cast members have been targeted with hate and bigotry, prompting Tierney to directly address what he described as “problematic parasocial behaviour” from parts of the fandom. The backlash has particularly impacted Williams, who is half-Korean, alongside co-star François Arnaud.

“We have a non-white lead. I think that’s fuckin’ important,” Tierney said. “We can learn a few lessons out of that: you don’t need to be making an Asian show to have an Asian lead. Hudson’s a fucking star, man.”

The showrunner also reflected on the unexpected scale of the show’s success, admitting, “We didn’t expect any of this attention or reaction from a public that might not exist at all.”

“We’ve learned a lot [since the show aired], and there’s a lot to think about moving forward in terms of the fandom and all that comes with it, negative and positive,” he added.

The controversy comes as Heated Rivalry continues to gain traction online, with fans активно creating edits and content around its central characters, while others cross the line into invasive and harmful behavior.

Williams also addressed the situation directly in a statement shared via Instagram, shutting down those using the show as a vehicle for hate. “Don’t call yourself a fan if you share racist/homophobic/biphobic/misogynistic/ageist/ableist/parasocial/bigoted comments of any kind. None of us need your hateful ‘love’,” he wrote.

“We all respect and support and love each other and are on the same side if you can’t accept that gtfoh,” Williams continued.

Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova echoed the sentiment in her own message, urging fans to keep the spirit of the show intact. “Don’t turn something on the internet that is about love into hate,” she wrote.

“So much love was put into this project, and we all have a genuine respect for every person involved in making it,” she added. “We are not characters, nor are our real friends, partners, or family, and creating false narratives about us is not ‘love’. So many good things have come out of this series, so let’s keep it that way. Share the love, the art, the dance parties, the friends that have been made, the positivity.”

As the show’s fandom continues to grow, the cast and creators of Heated Rivalry are making it clear that support is only welcome when it comes without hate.