Heated Rivalry stars share powerful message for LGBTQ+ youth while at gay bar

The stars of Heated Rivalry have shared an uplifting message for the show’s LGBTQ+ fans and queer youth.

Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams play Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander in the Canadian LGBTQ+ sports drama based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changer novels.

On Tuesday (9 December) night the pair appeared at LGBTQ+ venue Hi Tops in West Hollywood, Los Angeles during a festive trivia night.

After walking in to cheers from the assembled patrons, the pair thanked everyone for watching the series, which has fast become the internet’s latest obsession.

“Thank you for watching our show”, said Williams, while Storrie joked: “Thank you for tweeting about our butts.” Much of the enthusiasm for the show has entered around its steamy sex scenes with clips and images making the rounds on social media after each episode.

“Seriously, it means a lot to have so many people in this community just really embrace us and love this show. I think it’s awesome,” Storrie also said. “Ditto,” added Williams.

After engaging in some Heated Rivalry-related trivia with the crowd, the pair enquired about the charity the trivia night was supporting. It was Rainbow Labs, a local LGBTQ+ youth mentoring programme. 

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Asked if they had a message for LGBTQ+ youth Storrie said, “Take up space, be yourself, be really loud, and don’t take s**t from anyone,” evoking cheers from the venue’s patrons.

And Williams said: “Just believe in yourself, and be yourself, and just f***ing schwing it, and bang it, and fling it in every which direction. And don’t let anyone shut you up or shut you down.”

Storrie then hastily clarified: “‘It’ being your authenticity.” Not anything else…

As well as posting their own footage from the encounter, Hi Tops also posted an update on Instagram saying more than $1,500 had been raised on Tuesday night.

Heated Rivalry focuses on Rozanov and Hollander, two rival ice hockey pros who engage in a passionate secret romance.

While the TV series takes its name from the title of the second of Reid’s book series, the show has also managed to fit in one “perfectly done” episode adapting the first book, Game Changer.

This focuses on Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) and his secret romance with smoothie-maker Kip Grady (Robbie GK).

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