Heated Rivalry episode four is teaching straight viewers this lesser-known gay sex act

Heated Rivalry has continued to rock the internet, with episode four of Crave’s steamy series also providing some sex education for viewers.

The LGBTQ+ sports drama based on Rachel Reid’s erotic novel focuses on two rival hockey players, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander (Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams respectively) and their passionate secret affair.

Since the show first debuted at the end of November it has quickly become known for its explicit gay sex scenes as well as the star’s natural chemistry.

Episode four of the series, which aired at the end of last week, introduced some viewers to a previously unknown (to them) sex act: frotting.

And the reactions are quite something both those discovering what this is, as well as those marvelling at them.

“It genuinely never occurred to me that some people who watched the couch scene in episode 4 wouldn’t know what frottage is. that thought never once crossed my mind,” wrote one person on X/Twitter, in a post what has since gone viral.

it genuinely never occurred to me that some people who watched the couch scene in episode 4 wouldn’t know what frottage is. that thought never once crossed my mind

— haz 🌿 (@kurtstieI) December 15, 2025

Don’t ever tell me Heated Rivalry isn’t realistic when they instinctively knew no one was getting penetrated right after eating those tuna melts

— Tom Zohar (@TomZohar) December 12, 2025

“It didn’t click for me that that’s what that was and I just thought it was bad sex scene choreography lol,” replied someone. Another put, “I still don’t know what it is..”

Sharing a gif of Cynthia Erivo thinking during an interview another X/Twitter user wrote, “the concept of learning what frotting is from heated rivalry.”

Another viewer typed, “Frotting representation in tonight’s Heated Rivalry… sides everywhere are feeling seen tonight.” The same person then added, “Don’t ever tell me Heated Rivalry isn’t realistic when they instinctively knew no one was getting penetrated right after eating those tuna melts.”

And someone else wrote, “so apparently girls didn’t know what frotting is until heated rivalry and…am I a fujo fr cause I thought we all knew the concept.”

Similarly, one viewer mused: “people finding out what frotting is from heated rivalry….. y’all should’ve been up reading gay smut in middle school like I was.”

So, what is frotting? Essentially it’s dry humping, where two people (it doesn’t have to be men) rub their genitals against the other’s. You can also see it as mutual masturbation.

It’s all about deriving sexual pleasure through intimacy, friction and touch, not penetration. For those who don’t enjoy anal penetration, including gay men, frotting is a viable alternative.

At the end of last week, confirmation came that Heated Rivalry would return for a second season. The series is based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel series.

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