'Heated Rivalry' star says closeted pro athletes have reached out

Actor Hudson Williams said anonymous messages from closeted professional athletes, including hockey, football and basketball players, have reached him and author Rachel Reid after the HBO Max series 'Heated Rivalry' drew a large audience; the show has been renewed for a second season.

Hudson Williams told Andy Cohen on Sirius XM Radio that anonymous messages from closeted professional athletes have reached him and author Rachel Reid since the HBO Max series 'Heated Rivalry' became widely viewed. Williams said the messages have come from hockey, football and basketball players and sometimes arrive privately through Instagram or via the author. The series, adapted by Jacob Tierney from Rachel Reid's book series 'Game Changers,' is available on HBO Max in the U.S. and on Crave in Canada and has been renewed for a second season. Reported details: - Williams said messages have come from hockey, football and basketball players, sometimes anonymously and sometimes via private Instagram messages. - He described Rachel Reid as a recipient who sometimes relays anonymous emails to the cast. - Williams plays Shane Hollander, a closeted star hockey player, in the series, which centers on a romance between rival hockey players. - The television adaptation was written and directed by Jacob Tierney and is based on Rachel Reid's book series. - The show is described as Crave's most successful original debut series and two episodes rank among IMDb's highest-rated television episodes of all time. - The article notes there has never been an openly gay active NHL player; defenseman Luke Prokop, who came out publicly in 2021, currently plays in the AHL, and the NHL has an openly gay player agent, Bayne Pettinger. Summary: The series has prompted private outreach from athletes and renewed public discussion about openness in professional sports. Undetermined at this time.