Heated Rivalry’s Francois Arnaud accuses NHL of using show to ‘sell tickets’

Heated Rivalry star François Arnaud has accused the National Hockey League (NHL) of using the show to sell tickets without addressing homophobia within the sport.

The 40-year-old bisexual Canadian, who plays New York Admirals captain Scott Hunter in the internationally-acclaimed romantic drama Heated Rivalry, said he hopes the North American ice hockey league does more to support its closeted LGBTQ+ players.

Earlier this month, the NHL joined the global mania around Heated Rivalry after its commissioner, Gary Bettman, said he binged the show in a single night.

READ MORE: Heated Rivalry’s François Arnaud breaks silence on love life with defiant message

A spokesperson for the league later told Rolling Stone that the show’s popularity was clearly driving interest in the sport, adding that “what those new fans will find is a warm welcome.”

Unfortunately, what new fans might also find is the continued prevalence of homophobia within the sport. A survey of US adults shared in 2023 suggests that ice hockey is considered the most anti-LGBTQ+ sport among the ‘Big Four’ – American Football, Hockey, Basketball, and Baseball.

Speaking on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Arnaud confronted the disconnect between the NHL’s love of Heated Rivalry, and the homophobia still ripe within the league.

“I just hope that the league, that’s now using the show for tweets and Instagram posts and selling tickets, will actually, like, follow through and support open identities for the players.”

At the time of reporting, there are currently no out LGBTQ+ male players in the NHL. It is the only major North American male sports league to have never had an out, active player.

Arnaud previously urged the league to address its lack of diversity, according to the Express Tribune, saying that its LGBTQ+ allyship “has to be real”.

“You can’t just put a logo up and think the work is done,” he said. “It’s about creating an environment where people actually feel safe being themselves.”

In December, UHL goaltender Brock McGillis, who became the first male hockey player to come out as gay, told PinkNews he believed Heated Rivalry wouldn’t help closeted players come out.

Responding to comments from former hockey pro Sean Avery, who claimed the show might motivate players to come out, McGillis said he “wholeheartedly” disagreed.

“It might help the people around [players] understand a little more if they’re dating somebody; hopefully,” he said. “Nobody’s like, ‘Oh yeah. This came out and now I’m ready [to come out].’ It’s not happening.”

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