I won’t lie, I had very, very high expectations.

After all the excitement and hype of the last month, and the last week, knowing that Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie would appear at the Golden Globes, I anticipated big moments and much celebration.

It’s not like it was unfounded. The red carpet could not have been more happy to see them, from this wink…

…to this iconic Hudson moment facilitated by an oblivious Gayle King:

…to this moment where Nobody Wants This’s Jackie Tohn hijacks Connor Storie while he’s talking with Ayo Edibiri, kiiiind of knows she’s being somewhat weird and says as much to Ayo, but actually cannot manage to feel that bad about it:

And then this moment with Ayo that made it all better:

You get the idea. They were everywhere (and that’s before you even get to the events of Saturday night) and everything they said was charming and delicious and yes, thirst-inducing…

Maybe it was too much. Maybe the charm was overwhelming, and after watching them absolutely spellbind everyone they met, in every frame of every red carpet TikTok and reel (not to mention everything from Saturday night), somehow the Hollywood machine of talent’s teams mobilized…

Because while the original seating plan released late last week had them placed between Charli XCX and near Julia Literal Movie Star Roberts, by the time we saw them on camera during Nikki Glazer’s monologue, they were sitting with Kumail Nanjiani (not that there’s anything wrong with that, but come on, Kumail gets it! He’d want to sit with Julia too!) and then…we didn’t see them again for a while.

Lainey speculates – and I admit, I can see it – that certain stars’ publicists made some calls about the seating plan and the prime positioning of two rookies and maybe that’s the case, but I also can’t help thinking that with so much attention on them, the show’s talent producers wanted them yanked backstage as early as possible so they wouldn’t get sucked into a black hole of being swarmed and possibly be late for their onstage appearance.

Which…

Look, Hollanov did great:

The Heated Rivalry guys #GoldenGlobes

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) 2026-01-12T03:19:25.014Z

But some of the laughs were muted, and the bit didn’t get as much love as it should have. Not because of their performance, or even because of the script, which was kind of standard-Hollywood-awkward for a show that’s open about S-E-X …

…but because it was preceded by a deeply weird and awkward bit where the voiceless announcers called for more security, and UFC fighters walked out, stomped around and glared for a bit, and only then the stars of the show about two queer hockey players with a happy ending came out, while the audience looked on, bewildered.

In theory, this moment was supposed to be ‘just’ a promo for the recently acquired UFC rights but – are you really going to tell me the timing and placement was coincidental? 

Stars of a phenomenally popular, overtly queer, overtly happily queer and definitively Canadian show, which we all know would never have been made in the States, can appear and pump up the ratings, but only after the show makes sure to point out that they have plenty of violence available should anyone get out of line?

Like, am I being hyperbolic? Maybe, but also, after the last week in America? Not really. And after the last couple of weeks online, where Canadians will point out the show is overtly Canadian, created-by-Jacob-Tierney-and-produced-by-Crave-Canadian, only to be repeatedly scoffed and snorted at by American viewers who think that’s a pointless distinction? It starts to feel a little bit more pointed – a bit too Big Brother for my liking, and I don’t think I was the only one.

Luckily, though, I don’t think it’s likely to affect the Heated Rivalry phenomenon. Not for this energy:

Heated Rivalry behind-the-scenes. via thesieunguyen on Instagram

— Heated Rivalry News (@hrnews.bsky.social) 2026-01-08T18:59:37.710Z

Or for the delicious glam of François Arnaud, Robbie GK, and Nadine Bhabha at the Spotify party on the weekend:

@etalkctv

The gift that keeps on giving! 🎁 The cast of ‘Heated Rivalry’, Robbie G.K., François Arnaud and Nadine Bhabha, attended The Hollywood Reporter and Spotify Host Nominees Night together and our hearts couldn’t be more full! 🥲 Stream ‘Heated Rivalry’ on Crave! #HeatedRivalry #RobbieGK #FrancoisArnaud #NadineBhabha #RedCarpet

♬ original sound - HBO Max

(By the way, I’ve been lucky enough to work with Nadine, and not only is she funny and talented and so, so smart, her hair really just does this as she walks around…!)

@spotifynews

Nadine Bhabha and Robbie G.K. share what’s in for 2026 ✨ @Hannah

♬ original sound - Spotify News

Anyway, you get it. Gayle couldn’t let Hudson go:

In fact, everywhere he went on the red carpet, he was spreading joy and, you know… something extra. Here’s where he ensures everyone melts:

!!!! Should I keep going? Maybe I could, but we need to breathe, right? It’s been a long night ahead, and with the parties in full swing as I write this, there will, no doubt, be more by morning… but regardless of TPTB who might have tried to tamp down the queer Canadian joy, Heated Rivalry has had a pretty charmed coming out party this weekend, pun fully intended.

Hudson Williams attends the 83rd Golden Globes awards at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on January 11, 2026

Connor Storrie attends the 83rd Golden Globes awards at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on January 11, 2026

Photo credits: PA Images/INSTARimages, OConnor-Arroyo / AFF-USA.com / MEGA/ WENN

Share this post