“Just shows where the culture is still at”- Heated Rivalry’s Connor Storrie speaks out on male friendship stereotypes

Heated Rivalry star Connor Storrie reflected on male friendship stereotypes during a recent interview with Variety, published on December 13, 2025. While discussing the close bond he formed with co-star Hudson Williams, Storrie pushed back against the way audiences often interpreted affection between men.

When asked whether he and Williams had “really become best friends,” Connor Storrie explained that their off-screen dynamic had sparked broader conversations about how male intimacy is perceived.

He pointed to how spending extended time together, including Williams staying at his home for a week, highlighted cultural discomfort around visible affection between "men and man-on-man affection," because it was something people didn't see a lot. Storrie then expanded on how those perceptions become amplified because of the sexual nature.

“It’s is received because you don’t see that a lot. It's taboo for men to be friends and grab each other a certain way or hold hands. And me and Hudson being in such a sexual circumstance with one another, it’s really interesting to watch people sexualize our very amicable signs of affection. That just shows where the culture is still at in a way,” he said.

He went on to clarify that their closeness stemmed from shared experiences rather than romantic involvement.

Storrie emphasized that going through an intense production together created a deep sense of trust and comfort, which naturally translated into physical ease during public appearances.

“Just because we’re really comfortable with each other...we’re on this crazy rollercoaster together. If I have my hand on his leg as we’re sitting down doing a press thing because he’s my best buddy and I love him, and we have that level of comfort. It’s just interesting that that instantly gets turned into, ‘They’re more than friends,’” he added.

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“Heated Rivalry” stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie open up about their real-life bond

“Heated Rivalry” stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie (Image via Getty Images)

Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie quickly became fan favorites following the HBO Max series’ recent premiere, with viewers drawn not only to its steamy romance but also to the palpable chemistry between its two leads.

Based on Rachel Reid’s popular novels, Heated Rivalry followed two elite hockey players, Williams as Shane Hollander and Storrie as Ilya Rozanov, whose intense professional rivalry was complicated by unexpected romantic feelings.

According to IMDb, the series explored how their relationship challenged both their careers and the rigid expectations of the sport. Since its debut, the show propelled both actors into the spotlight, with fans scrutinizing their off-screen dynamic as closely as their on-screen intimacy.

In an interview with Vanity Fair published on Friday, December 12, 2025, Connor Storrie suggested that the closeness audiences noticed was not manufactured for the cameras.

He explained that the foundation of their connection had been established well before filming began, which made the more intimate scenes feel natural rather than forced.

“Me and Hudson had the chemistry down before we even started acting,” Connor Storrie said.

Hudson Williams jokingly added that their comfort level quickly erased typical personal boundaries, noting that they “got comfortable just being inches from each other’s face and invading each other’s personal space,” which was generally a “nightmare for HR.”

He further elaborated that the emotional structure of the story made the more serious scenes easier to perform.

Williams explained that much of the characters’ relationship involved holding back emotionally, so moments of genuine vulnerability felt especially rewarding.

“When we actually had scenes where we got to sit down and genuinely act, without the gimmicks of flirting, it was fun and so easy,” he said, adding that emotionally charged scenes were among the easiest he had ever performed.

He also joked that their close bond made it easier to cross emotional and physical boundaries most coworkers never approached, “unless they’re sleeping together.”

Despite fan speculation about their off-screen relationship, Connor Storrie said he largely avoided engaging with online discussions.

He explained that the post-premiere rush left little time to monitor social media and that immersing himself too deeply in public opinion could quickly become overwhelming.

“We’ve been really busy since the show has come out, so I haven’t been able to really dive too far into the online thing…I try to be involved and take in as much as I should, but it’s so easy to get lost in the sauce. You can’t help but want to dive into opinions about yourself,” Connor Storrie said.

Storrie likened the experience to being back in middle school, comparing it to hearing gossip secondhand from someone who was not quite a friend, which made it difficult to avoid getting drawn into the drama.

Williams, however, said he occasionally checked in on the online response and noted that the feedback had been “overwhelmingly positive.”

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Heated Rivalry premiered on November 28, 2025. Its strong reception quickly translated into continued momentum, with Crave and HBO Max officially renewing the series for a second season on Friday, December 12.

Edited by Shayari Roy