The stars of Heated Rivalry are speaking out about online hatred and fandom bigotry.
Co-stars Hudson Williams, François Arnaud and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova shared statements on their respective social media platforms condemning prejudiced statements from supposed fans and calling for respectful behavior.
“Don’t call yourself a fan if you share racist/homophobic/biphobic/misogynistic/ageist/ableist/parasocial/bigoted comments of any kind,” the statement read. “None of us need your hateful ‘love’.”
Cast member Robbie G.K., show creator Jacob Tierney and author Rachel Reid also reposted the message from Williams.
The note continued, “We all respect and support and love each other and are on the same side. if you can’t accept that gtfoh.”
Kharlamova also shared an addendum on her Instagram Story: “pls don’t make a show that’s about love be hateful online. So much love was poured into this project and we all genuinely have so much respect for everyone involved in making this. We’re not characters and neither are our real friends, partners, family and making up false narratives about us isn’t ‘love’. So much good has come from this show so let’s keep that going!! Share the love, the art, the dance parties, the friends made, the positivity!!”
The hockey romance series, based on Reid’s wildly popular novels, has catapulted its relatively fresh-faced stars — Williams and Connor Storrie — into near-overnight sensations, complete with magazine covers, professional relationships with luxury fashion houses and a Saturday Night Live hosting gig (for Storrie, on which Williams guested).
As the Crave Canada/HBO Max-acquired drama has dominated conversations online and offline, among plebeians and A-Listers, its popularity has also stoked the attention of bad-faith internet users who have pitted its main stars against each other — engaging in racism toward Williams, who is half Korean; anti-gay prejudice toward Arnaud, who is bisexual; and the general relentless parasocial behavior that seems part and parcel of celebrity culture in the modern age.
“Mass psychosis does seem like the only word for it,” Reid noted in a recent podcast interview, referencing the term — touted both on social media and in major print publications — that has been used to describe the overwhelming response to the show.
In the past, similar sentiments have been expressed by networks shepherding other popular shows with large fanbases: Prime Video released a statement decrying toxic fandom behavior amid the Season 3 release of The Summer I Turned Pretty, while Peacock’s reality dating phenomenon Love Island USA has implored its viewers to “please just remember they’re real people — so let’s be kind and spread the love!”
