Heated Rivalry’s François Arnaud Shares Why Everyone Is Hooked on Show—& It’s Not the Sex
Sex is not the only reason why people give a puck about Heated Rivalry, according to François Arnaud.
The actor—who plays New York Admirals captain Scott Hunter—weighed in on the hot buzz surrounding the gay hockey romance since its November premiere, saying that it’s not necessarily the steamy scenes between Hudson Williams’ Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie’s Ilya Rozanov that have fans all worked up.
“The sex is how they hook you,” François exclusively told E! News’ Keltie Knight at Critics Choice Awards 2026, “and then they kind of really break your heart by the end of it.” (Click here to see every star at the ceremony.)
He continued, “Women—but really, everyone—is really tired of emotionally unavailable men, and to see people open up in that way and characters show up in that way on TV, it’s a rarity. And I think we’re ready for it.”
But he’s not the only person on the cast who’s been body-checked by the positive reception.
