Heated Rivalry was, without a doubt, one of the biggest pop culture moments of 2025. However, its impact has proven to be bigger than the memes and fan edits, as it inspired one real-life hockey player to come out as gay. This is what we love to see!
In case you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon, Heated Rivalry — a series based on Rachel Reid‘s novel of the same name — is a gay sports romance that follows the fiery enemies-to-lovers situationship of Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).
Alongside having a ridiculously good-looking cast, the show’s passionate scenes and intense storyline have captivated audiences, resulting in horny and incredibly emotional fan edits.
But alongside the sauciness of it all, Heated Rivalry has handed one hockey player the courage to come out.
On Wednesday, Jesse Kortuem shared a Facebook post coming out as gay, giving credit to the beloved gay sports romance series.
“I am a private person. Those who know me best know that I don’t share much, if anything, publicly on social media, but lately, something has sparked in me (OK — yes credit to #HeatedRivalry). I realised it is finally time to share a journey I have kept close to the vest for a long time,” Kortuem wrote.
Within his post, Kortuem — who hadn’t played in the NHL, but had played in defenceman and centre in multiple leagues — reflected on how he struggled with being gay on the rink, admitting that being on the ice “did not feel like a place where [he] could be all of [him]”.
“Growing up as the youngest of four boys in the #StateOfHockey (Minnesota), sports and competition were not just what we did. They were who we were. As a young teenager, I carried a weight that did not seem to fit into that world, and I lived in a constant state of dichotomy. I loved the game, but I lived with a persistent fear. I wondered how I could be gay and still play such a tough and masculine sport,” he continued.
Kortuem reflected on how “coming out in the 2000s did not feel like an option” and how it would’ve “been a social disaster at such a large high school”.
“At 17, I walked away from the high school team and the brotherhood of hockey friendships I had developed from a young age for a myriad of reasons,” he penned.
Returning to the sport as an adult, Kortuem admitted he still found difficulty coming to terms with his identity, expressing he felt like “that kid in Minnesota hiding” and that he was ready to remain a closeted athlete or stop skating for good.
Kortuem concluded his post, addressing closeted athletes, reminding them they’re not alone in their journey and they will find their way.
“It is not everyone’s story, but for what it is worth, I thought I would share because I want to speak to the athletes out there who are still in the closet or struggling to find their way. I want you to know that there is hope and you’re not alone. There is a life and a deep happiness waiting for you on your path. You will get through this, and it is going to be okay,” Kortuem wrote.
Speaking to OUT!, Kortuem says he knows “many closeted and gay men in hockey” who’ve felt the impact of Heated Rivalry‘s success.
“Never in my life did I think something so positive and loving could come from such a masculine sport. I’ve struggled the last few weeks to put these emotions into words, fearing the impact on team dynamics, etc,” he told the publication.
“Today, I took the step to finally tell my hockey journey and my story. I’m beyond grateful for all the positive comments I’ve received from past teammates and high school teammates.”
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard Heated Rivalry making an IRL impact. Williams, who plays Shane Hollander, recently revealed on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live that closeted athletes have slid into his DMs.
And that, my friends, is why representation matters. Thank God, Reid and HBO Max for Heated Rivalry. 2025 was absolute dog shite, but that show has saved us in all aspects.
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