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The only thing people talk about more than their heated rivalry is the stars of the show. And that’s not necessarily a good thing.
Rumors are swirling that the stars of the Canadian ice hockey drama (which has already been renewed for a second season, with its season finale set to air on HBO Max on Dec. 26) may be just as queer as its characters.
The show, which focuses on the hot secret romance between rising professional hockey players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Conner Story), has been on TV screens for the past few weeks. The two engage in a cat-and-mouse game of sexual tension, sneaking into each other’s hotel rooms every time they fall into each other’s orbit as the hockey seasons pass over the years. There’s nudity, there’s no shortage of sex scenes, and they’re not the only characters participating in gay sex.
Williams and Story were friendly during press for the show, but neither has publicly acknowledged their sexuality. “It’s an honor to be able to bring to life a character that makes so many people feel seen and understood and represented, and I think that goes beyond who they sleep with in real life,” Storey told Vulture. And after celebrity gossip Instagram Dumoy claimed he had a girlfriend, Williams fired back in his now-deleted comment: “As you know, I’m starting to hate Dumoy.”
Celebrities and public figures such as Shawn Mendes, Kit Connor, and Khalid, to name a few, are regularly subjected to speculation about their sexuality. But should you?
Short answer: no.
Mental health experts say the consequences can be dire, especially if someone is forced out of the closet. Let’s take a look at social media and Google’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the US and see why.
Speculation about sexuality is troubling.
Connor, who starred in Netflix’s Heartstoppers, came out as bisexual several years ago after feeling a lot of pressure.
In a short tweet, Connor wrote: “Just a quick step back. I’m bi. Congratulations on forcing an 18-year-old to commit suicide.” Fans accused the straight, cisgender person of “queerbaiting” of appearing to cash in on LGBTQ+ fashion, music and acting roles. Some people have accused the stars of “Heated Rivalry” of doing the same.
Connor’s fiasco highlighted what happens when accusations of queerbaiting go awry. “There’s a big difference between exploitative LGBTQ-mediated representation and viewers raising legitimate concerns about queerbaiting and online trolling…” Melvin Williams, an associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University, previously told USA TODAY.
The same can be said for singer Mendes. He said this in October 2024. “The real truth about my life and sexuality is that I’m just figuring it out like everyone else.” While the star hasn’t actually said anything definitive about her sexuality, it’s certainly true that countless social media posts like to talk about it without evidence.
Indeed, anyone is free to discuss anything privately. But talking about sexuality in public when you feel uncomfortable with it is a whole other kind of intrusion. Even if they’re private and comfortable, that doesn’t mean they’re tabloid fodder.
People worry that queer representation lacks authenticity when queer actors aren’t playing the roles, but this is a more nuanced argument than people want to admit. When it comes to stories, he’s more concerned with who his characters represent to people. Why should you do this? his Is sex life part of the conversation?
Connor Story: Hudson Williams has no obligation to answer
Then again, shouldn’t celebrities, influencers, and other people in the public eye expect to be asked questions about their personal lives differently than the average person?
Yes and no. “The whole point of celebrity journalism is to gather as much information as possible about famous people that we’re probably all familiar with,” Williams explained. “Nonetheless, neither celebrities nor ordinary people are obligated to confirm or explain their sexual orientation to the public, and whether or not to do so should be a matter of choice.”
Experts say people shouldn’t feel obligated to go out, especially if their safety is at risk. No one should go out unprepared, even if they are better off.
“Ideally, we work on creating a world without boxes or closets to ‘step out of’ because we are never expected to be anything other than who we claim to be,” Moe Ali Brown, a licensed marriage and family therapist, previously told USA TODAY. “Until that change happens, we must be intentional about who we want to invite to our celebrations of our identities.”
We may never know the truth about the story and Williams’ personal life. That shouldn’t be up for debate.
