‘Heated Rivalry’ Author Brushes Off Negativity Surrounding Season 2 Casting
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
Author Ann Aguirre — writing as Rachel Reid — has dismissed criticism aimed at the newly announced Season 2 cast of "Heated Rivalry," pointing out that similar backlash targeted the Season 1 casting last year before the show proved a hit. Her response follows the reveal that Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie are joining the hockey romance series, continuing a pattern of cast members pushing back on fan negativity that has surrounded the show since its debut.
Smith will play Harris Drover and Gillespie will play Troy Barrett, characters drawn from Reid's "Game Changer" novels, though Crave Media and HBO Max have not issued official character descriptions. They join returning leads Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, who play Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, the secretly romantic rival hockey stars at the centre of Season 1. This is not the first time the show's cast has addressed online hostility: in March, Williams and co-star François Arnaud posted matching Instagram statements condemning fans who send bigoted or hateful comments to castmates.
- Rachel Reid brushes off backlash over "Heated Rivalry" Season 2 casting news.
- Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie join the cast as Harris and Troy.
- Cast previously called out fans for sending hateful, bigoted messages.
New here? Start with this
Hockey romance drama Heated Rivalry is an adaptation of Rachel Reid's novels, following two rival professional hockey players who fall for each other while trying to keep their relationship hidden. The first season, which aired on Crave and HBO Max, was well received and built a loyal fanbase, but it also became known for cast members having to publicly address hostile or bigoted comments from some viewers online.
The show's writer, Ann Aguirre, publishes under the pen name Rachel Reid. She has now responded to criticism over the newly announced Season 2 cast, noting that the original cast also faced similar negativity before the series won people over. New additions Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie are set to play characters from Reid's "Game Changer" novels, joining returning stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams as the central couple.
This debate matters because it reflects a recurring tension around the show: a series praised for its LGBTQ+ representation that has repeatedly had to navigate abusive fan reactions alongside its growing popularity.
More coverage