In recent weeks, several of the show’s leads have been the focus of negative online commentary
Actors Hudson Williams and François Arnaud have urged viewers of the television drama Heated Rivalry to stop posting hateful comments about cast members on social media.
The two actors shared identical statements on their Instagram Stories on Monday addressing fans who target their colleagues with abusive messages online.
Photo: Instagram
“Don’t call yourself a fan if you share racist/homophobic/biphobic/misogynist/ageist/ableist/parasocial/bigoted comments of any kind,” the statement read. “None of us need your hateful ‘love.’”
The message also emphasised that the cast maintain a supportive relationship with one another despite attempts by some viewers to create divisions.
“We all respect and support and love each other and are on the same side. If you can’t accept that gtfoh.”
Heated Rivalry follows professional ice hockey players and centres on the secret relationship between rising star Shane Hollander and fellow player Ilya Rozanov. In the series, Williams portrays Hollander, while Connor Storrie plays Rozanov. Arnaud appears as veteran professional Scott Hunter.
In recent weeks, several of the show’s leads have been the focus of negative online commentary. Some posts have attempted to generate controversy or tension among the actors by criticising individual performances or speculating about off-screen relationships.
Williams and Arnaud’s statements were intended to discourage such behaviour and remind viewers that the cast remain united behind the project.
They are not the only members of the production to address the issue publicly. Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, who plays Ilya’s close friend Svetlana in the series, recently shared her own response on social media.
“Since it’s Women’s Day I want to say the women you see at industry events are there bcuz they are just as deserving of being in those rooms! The assumption that we are there because our male costars invited us takes away the work we also put in. Celebrate women’s achievements!”
In a follow-up message, she added: “Also if you’re using this tweet to criticize my castmates you missed the point! They are amazing!! I said CELEBRATE WOMEN not hate on male actors.”
