Is Hudson Williams gay? That question became a global top search after the 25-year-old Canadian actor played Shane Hollander in Heated Rivalry, which premiered in November 2025. His on-screen chemistry with co-star Connor Storrie made fans wonder about his real life. Hudson has given a clear answer about his love life while still protecting his private life.
Biography Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Hudson Williams |
| Place of Birth | Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada |
| Age | 25 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Ethnicity | Half-Korean, half-white |
| Profession/Occupation | Actor |
| Education | Sa-Hali Secondary School, Kamloops |
| Genre/Field | Television drama, romance, thriller |
| Dating/Relationship Status | In a relationship |
| Spouse/Partner | Katelyn Rose Larson (girlfriend) |
| Notable Works | Heated Rivalry (Shane Hollander), Yaga |
| Awards/Honors | Canadian Screen Award, Best Lead Performer (2026) |
| Social Media |
Is Hudson Williams Gay in Real Life?
Hudson Williams has not said he is gay. He is in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Katelyn Rose Larson, and he has chosen not to put a label on his sexuality. Fans who ask whether Hudson Williams is gay IRL should know that he has never publicly confirmed a queer identity. He has never denied one either.
When people search “is Hudson Williams gay or straight in real life,” they usually want a simple yes-or-no answer. Hudson has avoided giving one. He separates his work from his personal relationships, and he has said his private life does not need to be part of his public life.
A lot of the confusion comes from how convincing his performance is. Shane Hollander is a gay hockey star in a secret romance with his rival, Ilya. Many viewers believed the role so fully that they assumed the actor must share the character’s sexuality. Acting does not work that way, but the assumption spread anyway.
I have followed celebrity coverage for years, and this pattern repeats with almost every breakout queer drama. When a show does well, the leads get questions about their sexuality. Hudson’s case drew more attention than most because the show became such a big hit so quickly.
What Hudson Williams Has Said About His Sexuality
Hudson’s position is that he does not want a label. He has not described himself as gay, straight, or bisexual. He lets his relationship status speak for itself and keeps the rest private, which many people in the public eye do.
He has also said what he cares about more than his own label: “I want queer people telling queer stories.” That line shows he understands the debate about who gets to play queer characters. He seems aware that his casting is part of that conversation.
Around the premiere in December, Hudson said he would rather focus on the work and the story than publicly discuss who he loves. He has described how sudden and unexpected the fame was. He has also said fans’ interest in his sexuality comes with the territory, but they are not owed a full account of it.
Some fans read his openness about his friendship with Connor, including how easily the two of them physically express affection, as a hint. Hudson has consistently framed it as a close friendship and nothing more.
Hudson Williams’ Girlfriend: Katelyn Rose Larson
Hudson’s girlfriend is Katelyn Rose Larson, a fine-line tattoo artist. She is the same age as him. The couple have been together since around 2023, well before Heated Rivalry put him in the spotlight, so she is a long-time partner rather than a new romance.
He hard-launched the relationship on Instagram on 14 February 2026, Valentine’s Day. The post had six photos of the two of them, often in matching all-black outfits, with an affectionate caption. Fans reacted strongly, and the girlfriend photos spread across social media within hours.
The stories about their early days are humble ones. Their connection reportedly started in DMs, at a time when Hudson had no steady acting job and drove an old gold Mazda that used to smoke. Katelyn was the stable one while he waited for his first non-short-film role in 2024.
Their relationship has gone public in stages:
| Date | Moment |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Relationship begins |
| 14 February 2026 | Instagram hard launch with six photos |
| 16 March 2026 | Appearance together at the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty |
| 31 May 2026 | Katelyn thanked in his Canadian Screen Awards speech |
The Queerbaiting and Gay-Baiting Accusations
After the girlfriend post, some critics accused Hudson of queerbaiting. Their argument was that a non-queer actor had benefited from a gay role, and from the speculation about his own sexuality, without being part of the community. Reddit users and others on social media pushed the gay-baiting narrative hard.
Opinions online were mixed. Some argued that queer lead roles should go to queer actors because of the systemic barriers those actors face in the industry. Media commentators such as Dino-Ray Ramos and Eli Cugili took part in the wider discussion about authenticity in casting.
Others came to his defence. They pointed to Kit Connor of Heartstopper, who was pushed into revealing he is bisexual after similar accusations. That case showed how toxic it can become when fans demand that real people explain themselves. Treating actors like their characters erases their right to privacy.
The fairest reading is that the criticism mixes two separate issues. The industry-wide debate about who gets queer roles is legitimate. Accusing an individual of baiting simply because he has a girlfriend leaves no room for bisexual people or for anyone who chooses not to share a label. Judging someone’s sexuality from their style or public appearances is skepticism, not evidence.
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie’s Bond
Connor Storrie, the American actor who plays Ilya, is one of Hudson’s best friends. Their bond started at a chemistry read and grew while they filmed the show’s on-camera intimate scenes. That trust is a big part of why their scenes feel so real.
The two men have matching tattoos and have spent holidays together. The photos they post feed online discussion about whether they are more than friends. Both have been clear that this is a deep friendship, and neither has shared much about his own dating life.
A touching moment came during awards season. Connor was ineligible for the Canadian award because he is American, so Hudson treated his win as a shared award and credited Connor as a full partner in the work. Fans saw this as proof of real loyalty between the two.
Showrunner Jacob Tierney Shuts Down Speculation
Jacob Tierney, the openly gay showrunner and writer of Heated Rivalry, has addressed the speculation directly. He explained that he is legally prohibited from asking about an actor’s sexuality during casting. In other words, nobody on the production team ever knew, or asked, whether either lead was gay.
What mattered to Tierney was each actor’s enthusiasm and willingness to work, and how they handled the material. He chose Hudson and Connor for their performances, not their personal lives. He has pointed out that representation comes from honest storytelling as much as from who is cast.
By saying this publicly, Tierney took some pressure off his stars. He made it clear that questions about an actor’s sexuality have no bearing on whether they deserved the role.
The DeuxMoi “Secret Girlfriend” Incident
Before the hard launch, the gossip account DeuxMoi raised the girlfriend question on its Deux U podcast. A cohost claimed that Hudson had a secret girlfriend he was hiding to protect the show’s appeal, and presented it as an expose.
Hudson replied to a clip of the podcast with a sarcastic comment that mocked the claim. He then deleted the comment and stayed silent on the matter. Fans screenshotted the deleted comment before it disappeared, and it fuelled weeks of debate.
Looking back, the episode shows how hard Hudson tried to keep his relationship off the internet. He only shared it on his own terms, months later, with the Valentine’s Day post.
Jordan Firstman’s Criticism
Comedian Jordan Firstman publicly criticized the show’s casting. He suggested in an interview that two straight actors were pretending to be gay for profit, and that this deserved scrutiny while queer actors still struggle to find work.
His comments came around a joint promo event and drew pushback. Co-star François Arnaud defended Williams and Storrie. He argued that no one should be forced into coming out to justify a role, and that the stars’ work on the show should be judged on its own terms.
Firstman’s criticism is the sharpest version of the queerbaiting debate. It shows that even within the queer community, people disagree about where authenticity should come from.
Heated Rivalry: Success and Season 2
Heated Rivalry premiered on 28 November 2025 on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in the US. It quickly became HBO Max’s number one original series and stayed near the top of daily charts. In the UK, it streams on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV.
The show is based on Rachel Reid’s hockey romance books. Season 2 began filming in August 2026 and will adapt the second book in the series, The Long Game. The premiere is expected around April 2027.
The show’s worldwide success is the main reason Hudson’s sexuality became such a big talking point. Few Canadian productions have reached this scale, and that kind of reach brings scrutiny.
Messages From Closeted Pro Athletes
One of the most moving effects of the show has been the anonymous messages Hudson receives on Instagram from closeted pro athletes. He has said players from hockey, football, and basketball have reached out to tell him what the story means to them.
Hudson described the overnight success as fun but overwhelming, and said these messages touch his heart more than anything else. Rachel Reid has spoken about similar messages reaching her. It shows the show matters to real people living with the same fear as its characters.
He has also kept healthy boundaries. He listens and appreciates the messages, but he does not try to act as a counsellor or spokesperson for closeted players.
Representation as a Half-Korean Actor
Hudson is half-Korean and half-white, which adds another layer to his visibility. He has said he hopes Asian kids see him as a lead in a major romance and feel they can be the hero of their own story.
This side of his representation gets less attention than the debate about his sexuality, but it matters. Asian actors, especially men, rarely get romantic lead roles in North American TV. Hudson’s success quietly challenges that.
Viral Tom Blyth “Makeout” Video Debunked
A viral video claimed to show Hudson making out with actor Tom Blyth in a Milan nightclub. It spread fast and many fans treated it as proof that he is gay in real life.
The video was debunked. The people in the clip were lookalikes, not the two actors. It is a good reminder to check viral “evidence” about any celebrity’s love life before sharing it.
Canadian Screen Awards Win
On 31 May 2026, Hudson won Best Lead Performer at the Canadian Screen Awards, his first major award. Heated Rivalry won 16 awards that night, making it one of the biggest winners in the event’s history.
In his speech, Hudson thanked his parents, Katelyn, and Connor. Thanking his girlfriend on that stage confirmed again that their relationship is serious and public, without him saying a word about labels.
Kamloops Roots and Golden Globes Moment
Hudson was born and raised in Kamloops, British Columbia, and is an alumnus of Sa-Hali Secondary School. His hometown has celebrated him as local talent who made it on the world stage.
His Golden Globes appearance was a big moment for Kamloops, and local media treated it as a source of civic pride. For a young actor who struggled financially only a few years ago, it shows how quickly his career has risen.
Latest Project: Yaga
Hudson’s latest project is Yaga, a mystery thriller co-starring Noah Reid. It premieres on Binge on 23 October and centres on two characters, Henry and Logan.
Yaga gives Hudson a chance to show his range beyond romance. It also suggests his career will not be defined only by Shane Hollander, which may ease some of the pressure on his personal life.
FAQs
Is Hudson Williams bisexual?
Hudson has not said he is bisexual. He has chosen not to use any label for his sexuality. Any claim that he is bisexual is speculation, not something he has confirmed.
Is Hudson Williams married?
No, Hudson Williams is not married. He is in a committed relationship with Katelyn Rose Larson. The couple have not announced an engagement.
How old is Hudson Williams?
Hudson Williams is 25 years old. He is about the same age as his character Shane during much of the show’s timeline, which helps the role feel authentic.
Where can I watch Heated Rivalry?
You can stream Heated Rivalry on HBO Max in the US, on Crave in Canada, and on Sky Atlantic or NOW TV in the UK. Season 1 is available now, and Season 2 is coming.
Does Hudson Williams play a gay character?
Yes. He plays Shane Hollander, a gay pro hockey player in a secret relationship with his rival, Ilya. Hudson’s real-life sexuality is a separate matter from the role.
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