The creator of the hit show Heated Rivalry has responded to recent criticism about how the series portrays gay relationships and sex. Jacob Tierney, who created, wrote, and directed the Crave and HBO Max series, spoke out about comments from actor Jordan Firstman, who said the show’s intimate scenes were not realistic.
The controversy began after Firstman, star of the HBO show I Love LA, gave an interview where he was critical of Heated Rivalry. He stated the show was “just not gay” and that its depiction of sex was not accurate. He also suggested the lead actors should publicly discuss their sexual orientations. These remarks started a wider conversation online about who gets to tell queer stories and what makes them authentic.
Tierney addressed the feedback directly, focusing on the role of allies in storytelling. He also highlighted that the criticism seems to have been resolved, as Firstman has since apologized to the cast.
The discussion around Heated Rivalry touched on two main points: the realism of its sex scenes and the identities of those involved in making the show.
Actor Jordan Firstman sparked the debate in an interview with Vulture. He said, “I watched those first two episodes of Heated Rivalry and it’s just not gay. It’s not how gay people fuck”. He added that the show seemed like it was made by straight people, saying, “A straight guy could not write that. They don’t know what the camaraderie of gay sex is”.
Firstman also commented on the lead actors, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, who have not publicly labeled their sexual orientations. “A gay guy would say it,” Firstman said. “I don’t respect you because you care too much about your career and what’s going to happen if people think you’re gay”.
These comments quickly spread on social media, leading other figures from the show to respond.
The criticism did not go unanswered. François Arnaud, who plays the out gay hockey player Scott Hunter on Heated Rivalry, publicly replied to Firstman’s comments. Arnaud, who is bisexual, wrote in an Instagram comment, “Is there only one way to have ‘authentic’ gay sex on TV?” He continued, “Should the sex that closeted hockey players have look like the sex that sceney LA gay guys have?”.
Arnaud’s response was widely praised for defending the show’s specific context—portraying the secret relationship of two athletes in a high-pressure, traditionally masculine sport.
Show creator Jacob Tierney later addressed the situation in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. He revealed that the conflict had been resolved peacefully. “He’s been sending my cast apology messages, and other cast members of that show have reached out to us and apologized on his behalf,” Tierney said.
Tierney used the moment to make a larger point about inclusion and allyship in the creative community.
In his response, Tierney shifted the focus from criticism to collaboration. He emphasized that the goal should be to welcome allies, not question their right to contribute.
“We as queer people need to check our messaging,” Tierney said. “The things that we decide women can or can’t do can be really exhausting. Women are allowed to write about men. They’re allowed to write about gay men. The question should be, how are they writing about us? Is it with empathy? Is it with allyship? Is it with kindness? Why are we looking for enemies here instead of looking for allies?”
Tierney was referring to Rachel Reid, the straight woman who wrote the original Game Changers book series that Heated Rivalry is based on. His comments defend the idea that stories about marginalized groups can be told effectively by people outside those groups, provided it is done with sensitivity and respect.
Rachel Reid also shared her thoughts in an interview with WIRED. She said she welcomes feedback from the gay community. “I feel personally, that as long as you’re willing to be sensitive and thoughtful about what you’re writing, and most importantly, are willing to listen to feedback from the community that you’re trying to represent, then you can write what you want to write,” Reid stated.
Apart from the debate about authenticity, Tierney also gave a practical and humorous explanation for how the show’s intimate moments were filmed. He explained that the process is highly technical, similar to stunt work, and is done with the help of an intimacy coordinator.
He directly responded to viewers who questioned the logistics of certain scenes. “People are like, ‘When did Shane prep?’” Tierney said, referencing a moment where the characters have penetrative sex. “This is not a documentary. You wanna watch them douche? You want me to include Shane in the bathroom for half an hour with the f***ing enema? That’s not what we’re doing here. We’re skipping that part”.
Tierney described creating a specific, communicative environment on set so the actors felt safe. “I said this to the boys before everything: I don’t care what you’ve done,” he explained. “I never want to assume anybody has experienced anything, so I’m gonna say some stuff out loud… They just created a whole language for it”.
The online feud appears to have cooled. In mid-December, Hudson Williams posted a selfie on social media showing him sitting next to Jordan Firstman. Both actors added heart emojis to their posts, signaling that any personal issue was over.
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Despite the brief controversy, Heated Rivalry has been a major success. It became the number one original series of all time on Crave in Canada and also topped charts on HBO Max in the United States. Its popularity led to a quick renewal for a second season. The first season’s finale, Episode 6: “The Cottage,” is scheduled for release on December 26, 2025.
For viewers in the UK, the entire first season will be available on Sky and the streaming service NOW starting January 10, 2026.
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