It’s not every day that a Canadian sports romance series takes over streaming charts, fashion trends, and the audio world all at once, but that’s precisely the phenomenon surrounding Heated Rivalry and its breakout stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. As the new year begins, the show’s influence has spilled far beyond the rink, sparking heated debates, viral fashion moments, and even a record-smashing audio erotica spinoff. Yet, Williams now finds himself at the center of controversy as an old film review he penned has resurfaced, drawing sharp criticism and adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding saga.
Williams, who plays Canadian hockey star Shane Hollander in Heated Rivalry, is currently enjoying a career high. The show, which debuted on Crave on November 29, 2025 and is now available on HBO Max, quickly shot up the ranks to become the number one series on HBO’s "Top 10 Series Today" list as of January 6, 2026. The TikTok hashtag for the show has been used in more than 290,500 posts, according to The Webster’s event announcement, and fans can’t seem to get enough of the electrifying chemistry between Williams and his co-star Storrie.
But just as Williams was preparing to bask in the limelight of upcoming appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers, an old Letterboxd review he wrote in December 2023 resurfaced, igniting a wave of backlash. In the review, Williams gave The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes three stars and singled out Rachel Zegler’s performance as the weakest in the film. He wrote, “most of the acting was really good and Tom was fantastic but Rachel was probably the least embodied performance I’ve seen in the last 5 years or so if I’m being brutally honest.” Williams added that Zegler “really struggled to sell the idea of being someone born in the districts” and described her as “a musical theatre kid trying way too hard.”
As screenshots of the now-deleted review spread across social media in early January 2026, fans and critics responded with a mix of outrage and disbelief. One widely shared post declared, “Hudson Williams having the audacity to speak on Rachel Zegler’s acting when he’s the worst actor in a show filled with bad acting.” Another user argued, “Rachel was absolutely phenomenal in tbosas, which just makes me think he was subscribing to the misogynistic hate train against her.” The backlash quickly escalated, with many accusing Williams of hypocrisy and suggesting his comments reflected broader patterns of disproportionate scrutiny faced by young female performers. According to Express Tribune, supporters of Zegler saw the incident as emblematic of the challenges women in Hollywood continue to face.
The timing of the controversy couldn’t be more ironic, as Williams and Storrie are fresh off the success of their latest project: the audio erotica series Ember & Ice. Released on the Quinn app with its first two episodes dropping December 30, 2025, the series became an instant sensation. Within 24 hours, over 573,000 plays were logged, causing the app to crash temporarily as fans flocked to hear their favorite duo in a new, fantastical setting. By January 6, the three-episode series had amassed approximately 1,675,540 plays—nearly 2 million in its debut week, as reported by Quinn and entertainment outlets.
Ember & Ice transports listeners to a war-torn fae realm where Williams voices Finn, the dutiful heir to the Lunare throne, and Storrie plays Dane, a reckless Solari prince. Their rivalry, echoing the dynamic of Heated Rivalry, blurs into a dangerous attraction. The audio series is explicit, both in its sexual content and its exploration of fantastical geopolitics, leaving fans clamoring for a sequel or even a film adaptation. As Quinn’s official synopsis puts it, “When Finn (Williams), the dutiful heir to the Lunare throne, is forced into close quarters with Dane (Storrie), a reckless Solari prince, their long-standing rivalry begins to blur into a dangerous attraction.”
Meanwhile, Heated Rivalry continues to generate buzz in unexpected places. One of the most talked-about elements of the show isn’t even a plot twist or a romance, but a piece of clothing: the Team Canada zip-up fleece worn by Williams’ character in episode two. Designed specifically for the series and not officially affiliated with Team Canada, the fleece became an instant hit with viewers. Fans flooded social media with requests to buy the garment, and the excitement grew so intense that it caught the attention of the show’s costume designer, Hanna Puley. She explained her inspiration, stating, “The idea of approachability and comfort was really important for me here. As well as showcasing Canadian identity—which to me feels like quiet confidence. Tough, self-aware, and a little understated. But, ultimately cozy.”
The buzz didn’t stop with fans. The official Team Canada Instagram account playfully acknowledged the phenomenon, teasing, “be excited for both,” and later hinting at the possibility of producing an official Heated Rivalry fleece. A Change.org petition soon emerged, urging Team Canada to make the fleece available and highlighting its potential to “[lower] the barrier for new fans, including women, LGBTQIA+ fans, and people who are newer to hockey or the Olympics, to engage in a way that feels welcoming and authentic.” Legal hurdles remain, however, as the Canadian flag and maple leaf are protected by the Trademarks Act, restricting commercial use without government approval. As of press time, Team Canada has not responded to CBC’s request for comment or confirmed whether the fleece will move from fiction to reality.
The show’s cultural impact is also being celebrated in person. On February 7, 2026, The Webster in Hartford, Connecticut will host a Heated Rivalry-themed night for fans aged 18 and up. Attendees can expect show edits on giant screens, a soundtrack of pop, queer anthems, throwbacks, and club bangers, plus a photobooth, themed drinks, and giveaways. Tickets start at $26.15, with VIP tables available for $173.15, according to The Webster’s website. The event reflects just how quickly Heated Rivalry has become a viral sensation, with its reach extending from streaming platforms to real-world gatherings.
Despite the recent controversy, neither Williams’ nor Storrie’s star appears to be dimming. Both actors are set to make their debuts on major late-night talk shows this month, further cementing their status as rising talents to watch. As the fandom debates, celebrates, and sometimes criticizes every move, one thing is clear: Heated Rivalry and its stars have tapped into something much bigger than hockey, romance, or even television itself. They’ve ignited a cultural moment that shows no signs of cooling down.
