Heated Rivalry star (and certified heartthrob) François Arnaud has revealed why he thinks everyone is obsessed with the gay hockey romance series, and honestly, he’s definitely clocked us on what we YEARN for.
Before we could kiss the cooked year that was 2025 goodbye, the universe (and by universe, we mean HBO Max and Rachel Reid) gifted us Heated Rivalry.
The six-episode series — named after Reid’s book of the same name — follows the incredibly sexy, intense, passionate situationship of rival hockey players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).
So, mixing that enemies-to-lovers storyline with gorgeous actors and horny AF sex scenes, you’ve got the world’s next big thing.
However, according to Arnaud, who portrays Scott Hunter in the beloved gay romance series, he reckons fans aren’t hooked on the show because of the sex, but rather because of how the series portrays men.
“The sex is how they hook you,” Arnaud told E! at the Critics Choice Awards.
“and then they kind of really break your heart by the end of it.
“Women — but really, everyone — is really tired of emotionally unavailable men, and to see people open up in that way and characters show up in that way on TV, it’s a rarity. And I think we’re ready for it.”
AMEN to that, ‘cos the girls are tired of the emotionally unavailable men both in media and IRL.
Reflecting on Heated Rivalry‘s explosive rise in popularity, Arnaud admitted “life has changed a lot”.
“There’s a few text chains and I’m on all of them,” he added.
“Yes, everybody’s freaking out. No one can believe it.”
Thankfully, for those who are still horny for Hollanov and more hockey scenes, Heated Rivalry has been greenlit for a second season.
But as we sit tight for more yearning, Williams and Storrie have teamed up with erotic audio app Quinn for its original series Ember & Ice.
Yes, it’s a gay romance. Yes, it has sex scenes. And yes, you can read all about it HERE.
Image source: HBO MAX / Heated Rivalry.
