Connor Storrie sexuality: Who is Hudson Williams dating?

Connor Storrie sexuality rumors have picked up speed since the HBO Max series *Heated Rivalry* hit screens in November 2025. The speculation centers on his off-screen relationship with co-star Hudson Williams, who plays rival hockey player Shane Hollander opposite Storrie’s Ilya Rozanov. At the same time, fans want a clear answer to the question of who Hudson Williams is dating, and the facts point to a long-term girlfriend, not his co-star.

Show sparks instant chatter

Adapted from Rachel Reid’s *Game Changers* novels, *Heated Rivalry* follows two NHL stars whose secret romance plays out over several seasons. The series quickly became one of HBO Max’s most-streamed scripted titles, fueled by explicit scenes and the instant chemistry between its leads. Clips of those scenes spread across social platforms, driving search traffic for Connor Storrie sexuality within weeks of launch.

Both actors were unknowns before the show. Storrie, raised in Odessa, Texas, had only a handful of credits; Williams, from Kamloops, British Columbia, had made short films. Post-premiere, each actor’s Instagram following jumped from roughly 10,000 to millions, and brand deals followed fast.

Creator Jacob Tierney has pushed back on questions about the actors’ personal lives, noting that asking about sexuality during casting is illegal in Canada. The statement only intensified curiosity about whether the on-screen intimacy mirrored real life.

Storrie keeps his private life private

Connor Storrie has repeatedly declined to label his sexuality. In a Gay Times interview, he said he plans to keep details about dating and sex to himself, adding that the role’s impact on queer viewers matters more than any bedroom confirmation. He also stresses the need for separation between himself and Ilya Rozanov.

The actor trained in skating and a Russian accent to play the character, then moved quickly into mainstream visibility. He hosted *Saturday Night Live* in February 2026, landed a Saint Laurent campaign, and made his Met Gala debut. None of those appearances included a partner on the red carpet.

Fans continue to read closeness with Williams as evidence of something more. Storrie has described their off-screen bond as best-friend territory, pointing to matching “sex sells” tattoos as a shared joke rather than a romantic signal.

Williams draws the line publicly

Hudson Williams answered the dating question directly on Valentine’s Day 2026. In an Instagram Stories collage, he posted a tribute to his girlfriend, Vancouver tattoo artist Katelyn Rose Larson, noting they had been together since his beat-up 2000 Mazda Protégé days. The post included a photo of the couple alongside one of him and Storrie, underscoring the platonic nature of the co-star friendship.

Williams has said the speculation comes with the job. In a Deadline interview, he stressed his support for queer actors telling queer stories while also making clear that his relationship with Storrie is best-friend territory. He later asked followers on Threads to stop editing romantic content that ignores his girlfriend.

The couple made their first official red-carpet appearance together at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in March 2026. Photos showed Larson in a vintage Halston dress and Williams in a custom Balenciaga suit, confirming the relationship to any remaining doubters.

Trailer keeps the topic trending

October 2026 brought a new round of attention. A trailer for the Canadian talk series *The Assembly* featured a clip of Williams being asked whether his feelings for Storrie went “more than friendship.” The moment reignited search interest in Connor Storrie sexuality even as Williams’ girlfriend remained a fixed presence on his social feed.

Both actors have described the on-set intimacy as an extension of their real-life comfort with each other, not a hint of romance. Williams has noted that physical closeness comes naturally after years of shared trailers, late-night script runs, and mutual support through rapid fame.

Industry observers point out that similar speculation followed earlier queer-led projects. The difference here is that one lead has already confirmed a long-term partner, shifting the conversation from hidden relationships to the ethics of demanding labels.

Brands lean into the friendship narrative

After the Valentine’s post, several sponsors leaned into the actors’ platonic bond. Balenciaga and Bvlgari, which signed both men, released joint campaign images of Storrie and Williams at a Vancouver rink, emphasizing teamwork over romance. The campaigns performed well with Gen-Z audiences who had already embraced the show’s slow-burn love story.

Stylist details from the Met Gala further separated fact from fiction. Storrie arrived solo in a custom Saint Laurent tuxedo; Williams walked the carpet with Larson in coordinated vintage pieces. Neither outfit included matching accessories that fans had predicted online.

Publicists for both actors have steered interviewers away from relationship questions, citing privacy and the actors’ preference to let the work speak. That strategy has kept the focus on upcoming projects rather than personal speculation.

Fan edits versus verified facts

Shipping culture around the pair remains active on TikTok and Tumblr. Hashtags pairing the actors’ names still trend weekly, often using clips from the show’s more intimate scenes. Williams addressed the trend directly, reminding followers that fan fiction belongs in fiction, not real life.

Academic studies on parasocial relationships suggest that intense viewer investment can blur the line between character and actor. In this case, the show’s explicit content and the actors’ pre-fame anonymity amplified that effect, making the girlfriend reveal feel abrupt to some viewers.

Page Six and E! Online both ran explainers after the Valentine’s post, listing the timeline of the relationship and noting that the couple had kept a low profile while the show filmed. The articles reduced speculation but did not eliminate it entirely.

Creator defends casting choices

Jacob Tierney has argued that requiring actors to match their characters’ orientations would limit storytelling options. In an EW roundtable, he said the production prioritized talent and chemistry over personal disclosure, a stance that aligns with current industry pushes for authentic representation without identity vetting.

The show’s writers room included openly queer staffers who shaped the emotional beats of the central relationship. Their perspective helped ground the story in lived experience, even if the leads themselves do not share that identity.

Storrie has cited those writers as the reason he felt equipped to play Ilya respectfully. He has avoided claiming any personal authenticity, instead framing the performance as an acting challenge that stands apart from his private life.

Next projects test the waters

Both actors have upcoming films that could shift the conversation again. Williams is attached to a Toronto-set drama about an indie band, while Storrie is in talks for a period piece set in 1920s New York. Neither project centers on queer romance, which may reduce the immediate focus on Connor Storrie sexuality.

Marketing teams for those films will likely follow the same playbook used for *Heated Rivalry*: emphasize craft and avoid personal questions. Early set photos show each actor working with new co-stars, further distancing them from the previous pairing in the public eye.

Whether audiences accept the separation remains to be seen. The rapid fame cycle means new storylines can overwrite old rumors within a single awards season, provided the next projects deliver comparable heat.

Privacy remains the through line

The clearest takeaway is that Hudson Williams is dating Katelyn Rose Larson, a fact he has confirmed publicly and repeatedly. Connor Storrie continues to withhold details about his own dating life, treating the question as off-limits rather than unanswered. The two positions coexist without contradiction, even if fan culture prefers a neater narrative.