Jacob Tierney slams racist backlash to Heated Rivalry’s Hudson Williams
Jacob Tierney has backed Hudson Williams after racist backlash (Getty Images_
Heated Rivalry showrunner Jacob Tierney has hit out at the racist backlash to lead star Hudson Williams.
Canadian actor Williams, whose mother is Korean, plays main character Shane Hollander. His character is also canonically of Asian descent, as his mother is Japanese.
The Crave show was an overnight smash hit, thrusting Williams and his co-stars – Connor Storrie, François Arnaud and Robbie GK – into a very intense spotlight.
And while the majority of fans have nothing but love for the show and cast, some formed more toxic, parasocial relationships with the stars that see them fight among themselves and hurl abuse at some of the actors for a variety of reasons.
Williams has been a target of some of the horrific trolling due to him being half-Korean, while his Russian-Trinidadian co-star Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, who plays Ilya’s friend Svetlana, has also faced abuse.
Speaking about the intense attention, show creator Tierney told Deadline: “We didn’t expect any of this attention or reaction from a public that might not exist at all.
“We’ve learned a lot [since the show aired], and there’s a lot to think about moving forward in terms of the fandom and all that comes with it, negative and positive.”
He went on: “We have a non-white lead. I think that’s f****** important. We can learn a few lessons out of that: you don’t need to be making an Asian show to have an Asian lead. Hudson’s a f****** star, man.”
Heated Rivalry cast members speak out
Sadly, it isn’t just racism the Heated Rivalry cast has been subjected to.
Arnaud, who plays star hockey player Scott Hunter, is the only out queer member of the cast. Strangely, his bisexuality has seen him on the receiving end of trolling from fans who are apparently huge fans of a show which is all about queer love (and features bisexual character Ilya Rozanov!).
In March, Arnaud and Williams released matching statements on Instagram, condemning the vile comments.
It read: “Don’t call yourself a fan if you share racist/homophobic/biphobic/misogynist/ageist/ableist/parasocial/bigoted comments of any kind.
“None of us need your hateful ‘love’.
“We all respect and support and love each other and are on the same side.
“If you can’t accept that [get the f*** outta here].”
The post was also shared by Kip star Robbie GK, who added a crown emoji.
Actress Kharlamova also shared the statement, adding: “Please don’t make a show that’s about love be hateful online.”
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