Heated Rivalry star says closeted NFL and NBA players have messaged him

Hudson Williams said several closeted professional athletes contacted him and author Rachel Reid after the premiere of Heated Rivalry. The show's popularity has boosted interest in hockey and it has been renewed for a second season.

Hudson Williams, a lead actor in the television series Heated Rivalry, said that several closeted professional athletes have messaged him since the show's premiere. Williams made the remarks on Andy Cohen's SiriusXM radio show. He said some messages arrived anonymously through author Rachel Reid, and others arrived privately on Instagram. The programme has drawn new attention to hockey and has been renewed for a second season. Key points: - Hudson Williams told Andy Cohen that multiple professional athletes who described themselves as "still in the closet" have reached out to him and to author Rachel Reid. - According to Williams, some messages came as anonymous emails relayed by Reid, while others were private Instagram contacts. - Heated Rivalry is adapted from Rachel Reid's novels and became a high-profile series on Crave in Canada and on HBO Max in the United States. - The article notes that the NHL has never had an active or former player publicly come out as gay, while the NBA and NFL have had some players come out either during or after their playing careers. - Examples mentioned include Jason Collins and Carl Nassib, and the piece references Luke Prokop, a draft pick who came out publicly and currently plays in the AHL after his NHL contract lapsed. Summary: Williams' comments highlight that several professional athletes have privately reached out to people involved with the show about its portrayal of same-sex relationships in hockey. The series has increased interest in the sport and has been renewed for a second season. Whether those private messages will lead to public disclosures by athletes is undetermined at this time.