‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Hudson Williams Says Closeted Pro Athletes Are Sending Him a Message

Star of “Heated Rivalry” Hudson Williams pulls back the curtain on his DMs…revealing that he’s received messages from professional athletes who say they’re still in the closet.

Speaking on “Andy Cohen Live,” Hudson – who plays Shane Hollander in the raunchy queer hockey drama – said he was struck by the depth of the series when he started receiving a flood of anonymous direct messages from secretly gay professional athletes.

Hudson said the messages didn’t come from just one sport…he heard from athletes in hockey, football and basketball – many of whom also contacted the show’s author, Rachel Reidwho then transmitted the love.

Others slid right into his IG posts — and Hudson admits those posts hit him hard.

“Heated Rivalry” focuses on Hudson’s character’s relationship with Connor StorrieThe on-screen love interest of…and it was highly praised after premiering on Crave in Canada before landing on HBO Max. It has since been renewed for S2.