'Heated Rivalry' Star Connor Storrie Shares Parents' Supportive Yet Cautious Reactions to Steamy Gay Hockey Romance

Connor Storrie, the 25-year-old breakout star of HBO Max's "Heated Rivalry, "has opened up about his parents'reactions to the series'steamy content during recent promotional appearances. The show, a gay hockey romance adaptation, has garnered significant attention for its explicit scenes and appeal to LGBTQ+ audiences.

Storrie, originally from Texas, discussed his family's response on NBC's "Today"show on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. He described his mother as his "Number One supporter, "noting that his family has always encouraged his acting ambitions from a young age. "From a young age, when I was like, ‘I wanna be in movies’ and stuff, they were like, ‘Yeah, go do it! ’ They’ve always believed in me, "Storrie said.

However, Storrie revealed that his father has not yet watched "Heated Rivalry, "which features numerous nude and intimate scenes between male leads. "My dad hasn’t seen it, and I’m not asking him to see it, ” Storrie stated. “I don’t think he needs to see it if he doesn’t want to. ” He attributed this partly to generational differences in media consumption, explaining that streaming platforms make content feel less "real"compared to traditional TV with commercials and billboards.

Earlier, on January 7, 2026, Storrie shared similar insights in an "ExtraTV"interview alongside "Abbott Elementary"star Janelle James while announcing 2026 Actor Awards nominations. Addressing the show's steamier elements from his Texas roots, he recounted telling his mother about the content: "When I told my mom about what goes on. .. she was like, 'Oh, okay. Are you sure you want to do that? 'And I was like, 'Yeah, I think I'm going to do it. 'And she's like, 'Oh, okay. Well, I'll just have to fast forward a little bit.' " Storrie emphasized his parents'overall support: "My parents are very chill. They've always been super supportive. .. they love me and they're like, 'Go for it, boy. Do it.' "

"Heated Rivalry"follows rival hockey players Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander in a passionate same-sex relationship, drawing from Rachel Reid's novel and resonating with LGBTQ+ viewers for its authentic portrayal of queer romance in sports. Storrie's performance as Shane has propelled the series to viral status on HBO Max, with fans praising its steamy yet emotionally layered depiction of transgender and gay characters in a traditionally macho sport.

These revelations come amid the show's explosive popularity, which Storrie described as "surreal"for his family. The actor, who perfected a Russian accent for a co-star's role, transitioned from waiting tables eight months prior to stardom. His candidness underscores broader conversations in LGBTQ+ communities about familial acceptance of queer media representations, where parents navigate support amid explicit content.