Warning: This article contains spoilers for the series Heated Rivalry.
When snippets of the Canadian show Heated Rivalry began circulating on TikTok towards the end of the previous year, Dima, a 24-year-old engineer from Moscow, found himself drawn to the intriguing storyline focusing on the romantic involvement between two professional ice hockey players – one from Canada and the other from Russia.
Upon diving into the series, he quickly became engrossed. Dima particularly admired the performance of U.S. actor Connor Storrie, who flawlessly embodied the character of Ilya Rozanov, a conceited and charming Russian center, including nailing the Russian accent.
He also resonated deeply with Rozanov’s internal struggle regarding disclosing his sexuality.
“When Ilya expresses his fear of not being able to go back to his homeland if he comes out – that’s the harsh reality,” disclosed Dima. To protect his identity due to Russia’s strict anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, CBC News is identifying him by his first name only.
“In the past, being LGBTQ+ was merely condemned. Now, it serves as a basis for animosity… they can physically harm you, detain you, or even arrest you.”
Push for Censorship
Based on a book series by Canadian author Rachel Reid, the show chronicles the evolving relationship between Rozanov and Shane Hollander, an Asian-Canadian player portrayed by Canadian actor Hudson Williams, as they navigate their emotions for each other amidst a fierce on-ice rivalry.
Heated Rivalry has gained worldwide attention, sparking discussions on sexuality, homophobia in sports, and inclusivity, challenging traditional perceptions of masculinity.
While the series was produced for Bell Media’s Crave streaming service in Canada and is broadcast on HBO Max in the U.S., accessing it in Russia requires a VPN or resorting to pirated platforms with subtitles or Russian dubbing, as it is not officially available in the country due to licensing constraints.
Despite its unavailability through legal channels in Russia, a national Orthodox group is advocating for a complete ban on the series due to depictions of what they label as “unnatural debauch
