François Arnaud, a star of the hit show Heated Rivalry, is speaking out against intense online harassment he received after fans speculated he was dating his co-star, Connor Storrie. The actor said he received death threats from viewers who could not separate the actors from their on-screen characters. Arnaud’s response highlights a dark side of fan culture that directly contradicts the inclusive message of the popular series.
The situation began on January 14, 2026, when Arnaud and Storrie were photographed together at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. They were returning from a press tour for their Crave/HBO Max series. These simple travel photos quickly sparked widespread rumors on social media that the two actors were in a romantic relationship.
For a segment of the show’s fanbase, this was unacceptable. In Heated Rivalry, Storrie plays Russian hockey player Ilya Rozanov, who is in a secret romance with his rival, Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams. Many fans are deeply invested in the on-screen relationship, often referred to as “HudCon,” and some reacted angrily to the idea of Storrie being linked with anyone else in real life.
François Arnaud Confirms Receiving Death Threats and Harassment
In a frank interview with the Toronto Star, Arnaud addressed the disturbing backlash. He acknowledged that while many fans have been supportive, a vocal group crossed a serious line.
“I think it’s a lot of younger fans who don’t really understand the difference between reality and fiction,” Arnaud stated.
The harassment escalated far beyond rude comments. Arnaud confirmed he was sent death threats by people angry over the dating speculation. This extreme reaction has had real-world consequences for the actor, who is now reconsidering his living situation for safety reasons.
Arnaud expressed frustration that the harassment misses the entire point of the show they all claim to love. Heated Rivalry tells a story about love and acceptance.
“I honestly wish they would just rewatch the show, because it doesn’t seem like they got its message,” Arnaud said. “Pay attention more closely. Did we watch the same show?”
Arnaud’s Social Media Moves Spark More Speculation
As the online storm grew, fans noticed François Arnaud making dramatic changes to his Instagram account. He unfollowed nearly everyone connected to Heated Rivalry, including his co-stars Connor Storrie, Hudson Williams, and Robbie G.K., as well as series creator Jacob Tierney. His following list dropped from over 1,000 accounts to just 213.
This move led to more confusion and concern, with fans wondering if it signaled a fallout with the cast or if it would affect his role in the upcoming Season 2. Arnaud later clarified his actions, explaining it was part of a broader attempt to clean up his social media, not a targeted attack on his colleagues.
“What’s happening is that I’m unfollowing everyone, and Instagram won’t let me do that all at once,” he told the Toronto Star. “You can only unfollow a certain amount of people over 24 hours, which I did not know at the time.”
He has since refollowed most of his castmates and the show’s creator.
Actor Posts Defiant Message Amid the Chaos
Following the unfollowing spree, François Arnaud posted a pointed message on his Instagram. He shared a composite image that featured three photos of co-star Hudson Williams flipping off the camera, alongside a fourth photo of himself making the same gesture.
He captioned the post, “Learning from the very best” and tagged Williams. While many interpreted this as a direct response to his harassers, Arnaud said the post was mostly unrelated to the drama.
“It’s completely unrelated to that,” he said. “I mean, ‘completely’ maybe would be a lie, but mostly unrelated to that. I’ve done these ‘spot the differences’ posts for a long time, and I just thought it was nice to do something with Hudson, and that’s it.”
The post was met with strong support from fans who condemned the harassment. One supporter commented, “I’m sorry there’s a part of the fandom that is trying to be so invasive and abhorrent to you all”.
Fan Reactions Show Deep Division Over Actor Privacy
The incident has sparked a significant debate within the Heated Rivalry fan community about the boundaries between actors and their roles. On social media platforms like X and Facebook, reactions have been sharply divided.
Many fans have rushed to defend Arnaud’s right to privacy. “They need to leave this gentle king alone,” one person wrote on X. Others pointed out the troubling irony of the situation, given the show’s themes.
“The irony of the show and book being about not being able to make your relationship public because of fan backlash only for the fans to do the same thing in real life is crazy,” wrote a fan on Facebook.
Some fans expressed concern that the toxicity could affect the future of the show. “If because of toxic fans we don’t get François Arnaud in season 2 of HEATED Rivalry I’m gonna lose my mind,” one worried viewer tweeted.
However, other comments questioned Arnaud’s decision to unfollow his co-stars publicly, wondering if it added unnecessary fuel to the fire.
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The Core Issue of Separating Fiction From Reality
At the heart of this controversy is a blurred line between on-screen fiction and off-screen reality. François Arnaud plays Scott Hunter, a closeted hockey player who has a secret relationship with barista Kip Grady, played by Robbie Graham-Kuntz. Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams play the show’s central couple.
Some fans have become so invested in the on-screen romance that they extend those desires to the actors’ personal lives, a phenomenon sometimes called “shipping.” This has led to harassment when real-life interactions don’t match their fictional narratives.
Arnaud, who publicly came out as bisexual in 2020, has previously spoken about the importance of separating an actor’s personal life from their role.
“It’s absurd to think that you should be allowed to ask about someone’s sexuality when they’re trying to get hired for a job,” he said in a past interview with Variety. “It’s crazy, like we’re only going to hire you if you’re gay?”
Heated Rivalry has been a major success since its premiere in late 2025, praised for its portrayal of male vulnerability and queer relationships. The show is set to begin filming its second season in the summer of 2026. Neither Arnaud nor Storrie’s representatives have officially commented on the dating rumors, and the actors have not confirmed any personal relationship.
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