Simu Liu is speaking out. The 37-year-old Marvel star took to social media on June 9, 2026, to defend Hudson Williams, the breakout star of the Crave series Heated Rivalry, after an old high school photograph of Williams resurfaced online. The image, which shows a teenage Williams with a swastika drawn on his forehead, quickly sparked intense backlash across social media platforms.
But Liu sees a troubling pattern. He argues that the intensity of the hate campaign is part of a larger problem targeting people of color in the entertainment industry. The actor drew on his own painful experiences after rising to fame as the star of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021.
The Resurfaced Photo That Started the Firestorm
The controversy began when an unverified photo of Williams, now 25, began circulating on X (formerly Twitter) and other platforms. In the image, Williams appears as a teenager with multiple markings drawn on his face and clothing. The most alarming marking is a swastika drawn on his forehead.
Other markings visible in the photograph include an upside-down cross, the word “aids” written across his face, and various names scribbled on his blue sweater.
According to sources close to the Heated Rivalry star, the photo was taken years ago during a high school tradition in his Canadian hometown of Kamloops, British Columbia.
A source explained to TMZ that the event was an annual “campout” where teens would party in the woods and cover each other’s clothing and skin with Sharpie drawings. The source emphasized that Williams had no idea what was being drawn on him at the time, as intoxicated teenagers were scribbling inappropriate things on each other for shock value and laughs.
“The markings do not and have never reflected Hudson’s beliefs, values, or character. This is not something he wrote but something that was written on him. It was a bunch of intoxicated teens writing inappropriate things on each other to get reactions.”
A local Threads user provided additional context, explaining that this specific high school has a yearly “Grad Stag night” where the entire graduating class spends the night at a bush party. Students write on each other’s blank shirts, and those who pass out often get drawn on without their knowledge. The user noted this tradition has been happening since at least 1993.
Simu Liu’s Emotional Defense: Drawing From Personal Trauma
Simu Liu did not stay quiet. The actor took to Threads on June 9 to share his thoughts on the situation, and his words carried the weight of personal experience.
“Soo I have this very specific trauma attached to people on the internet fabricating things about me and twisting things into a massive hate campaign when I first broke out. I began to recognize patterns whenever people of colour specifically had a moment of visibility. It happened like clockwork and I see it happening now. The internet is insane. Bad actors are everywhere. If you’re here, be careful. Be smart.”
Liu was referring to the intense scrutiny he faced after his breakthrough role in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021. The actor has previously spoken about how tabloids published false stories about him during that period, describing it as one of “the toughest stints” of his life.
In a separate Threads post, Liu directly called out media outlets for their coverage of the Williams controversy. He criticized an organization he said had “become synonymous with clickbait” for publishing what he called “vile sensationalist bulls**t.”
“Stop picking on people of colour for absolutely nothing,” Liu wrote.
When one fan thanked him for supporting Williams, Liu responded: “nah don’t worry I’m good now! But I absolutely f**king refuse to sit back and let it happen to other people.”
A Pattern of ‘Massive Hate Campaigns’ Against Actors of Color
Liu’s defense of Williams centers on a recurring pattern he has observed. He noted that whenever people of color gain visibility in Hollywood, social media attacks often follow “like clockwork.”
This observation is particularly relevant to Williams’ situation. The actor is of mixed heritage — he has described himself as “wasian” (White and Asian) — and grew up in a predominantly white area of Canada.
Williams has been a target of online vitriol since the Crave series adaptation of Rachel Reid’s Game Changers universe premiered in November 2025. The show, which centers on a romance between two professional hockey players, brought Williams widespread fame almost overnight.
Despite never publicly discussing his sexuality, Williams has faced accusations of “queerbaiting” and exploiting LGBTQ+ culture for recognition. His relationship with his girlfriend has been weaponized against him by online trolls who claim a heterosexual actor should not play a gay role.
How Hudson Williams Has Responded to the Hate
Williams himself has not yet publicly addressed the resurfaced photo as of June 12, 2026. However, he has spoken in the past about the emotional toll of sudden fame and online hatred.
In a January 2026 interview with Wonderland magazine, conducted alongside his Heated Rivalry costar Sophie Nélisse, Williams reflected on the negative attention he receives.
“I didn’t think there would be as many disrespectful people as there are. And vice versa, I didn’t think there would be as many respectful people as there are. There are people who are like, ‘No, let’s be respectful to him and his private life. Let’s not share these photos. When we approach him on the street, let’s be mindful of appropriate times.’ I’m seeing those comments, and that’s cool. But then there are disrespectful people who are just like, ‘F— that guy.’ And I’m like, holy s—. Why are people hating on me? There’s also all this fake news about me. And I’m like, ‘How do I already have fake news?’”
Sources close to Williams told TMZ that he understands there is nothing comical about the symbol drawn on him and that he “deeply regrets” the hurt the image has caused.
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Fans Rally Behind Williams With #IStandWithHudsonWilliams
Despite the backlash, Williams has received significant support from fans who have pointed out the context of the photo and the actor’s age at the time it was taken.
The hashtag #IStandWithHudsonWilliams has been used by supporters defending the actor. One fan wrote on X:
“The 25 y/o actor who picked a gay role, did it justice, always spoke up for the LGBT community, made queer movies with $5 with his friends for years prior, even as a film student, and whose own Vsco account show his actual beliefs.”
Another user added:
“Do I think Hudson is racist? Nope. What I do think is that he’s a wasian boy who grew up in the whitest part of Canada and was a dumb teenager (like everybody else).”
A third fan cautioned against the rush to judgment, writing:
“What’s becoming increasingly obvious is that some people have no interest in understanding the context or acknowledging who Hudson is today. Instead they seem more focused on keeping the controversy alive for as long as possible when no explanation is ever enough.”
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