Heated Rivalry creator tells Andy Cohen the NHL “need to deal with their toxic culture”
Jacob Tierney created the TV adaptation of Heated Rivalry (Getty Images)
Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney has criticised the NHL over what he describes as its “toxic culture”, arguing that the league has failed to make hockey a more inclusive space for LGBTQ+ people.
Jacob Tierney, who wrote and directed the hit gay hockey romance, made the comments during an appearance on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM show, Radio Andy.
When Cohen suggested the NHL had “met the moment” by embracing the show’s success, Tierney pushed back, asking: “Have they?”
Tierney then doubled down, telling Cohen: “They just hired four r*pists to play for them,” before adding: “The NHL is not meeting the moment.”
He went on to argue the league should have to prove it is welcoming, saying: “It’s up to the NHL to actually convince anybody that this is a safe space for people.” Tierney later added: “Every day they do prove that it’s not. They are not doing what they should be doing to make their sport an inclusive place.”
What did Jacob Tierney mean by ‘four r*pists’?
It is unclear what specific incident Tierney was referring to, although the filmmaker appeared to reference a high-profile sexual assault case involving five former Canadian hockey players, who were acquitted of the charges. Tierney criticised the NHL’s decision to reinstate players involved in the case.
Why the NHL and Heated Rivalry keep colliding
Tierney’s comments come as Heated Rivalry continues to break out beyond romance fandom. In January 2026, Cohen debated the show on a New Year’s Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper as the craze went mainstream.
The NHL has also faced scrutiny over LGBTQ+ visibility in recent years, including a 2023 controversy in which some players refused to wear Pride jerseys and the league banned Pride Tape.
While the show has brought renewed attention to hockey, Tierney argued that marketing campaigns alone are not enough to address the league’s wider cultural problems.
“They really need to deal with their own toxic culture,” he said. “And they’re not.”
