“Heated Rivalry” Cast Claps Back at Jordan Firstman’s Slam on Show’s Sex Scenes

The series Heated Rivalry has soared to global popularity and has been renewed for a second season, yet it has sparked mixed reactions with its portrayal of a gay romance within the world of professional hockey.

Following a critique from actor Jordan Firstman, known for I Love LA, who argued that the show’s sexual content does not accurately represent gay relationships, stars Hudson Williams and François Arnaud have publicly responded. Firstman claimed the series depicted sexual encounters in a way that is unrepresentative of real gay intimacy.

François Arnaud challenged this viewpoint on Instagram, questioning, “Is there only one way to depict ‘authentic’ gay sex on TV?” He also pondered whether the sexual experiences of closeted athletes should mirror those of openly gay individuals in vibrant city scenes.

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Williams chose to address the critique with grace on his Instagram Story, encouraging viewers, “But truly go watch I Love LA! Jordan and the cast are fantastic!”

This interaction follows Firstman’s comparison of the sexual depictions in Heated Rivalry to those in his own show on HBO Max, which he believes could not have been penned by a straight writer, despite Heated Rivalry’s creator, Jacob Tierney, being openly gay.

Firstman expressed to Vulture, “I mean, it’s supposed to be gay. I watched the first two episodes of Heated Rivalry, and it just didn’t feel authentic to gay intimacy. It’s rare to find shows that accurately portray gay sex.”

He further commented that many people are simply looking for entertainment, even if it means watching heterosexual actors portray gay characters.

Since its premiere, Heated Rivalry has garnered a strong following among LGBTQ viewers, who have embraced its candid portrayal of gay relationships, based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novel series.

Discussing the filming of the intimate scenes, Williams shared with Deadline, “We rehearsed the sex scenes thoroughly, which made them a lot of fun to shoot.”

“It’s like a dance,” added Connor Storrie, Williams’ on-screen romantic interest.

Arnaud also shared insights with Deadline, “We selected actors who saw the value in these scenes for advancing the narrative. I appreciated how our scenes with Kip [played by Robbie GK] explored a different aspect of sexuality, which was more about discovery and repression, almost like role-playing, and it’s just two people really surrendering to the moment and the joy that comes with that.”