“I Love LA” star Jordan Firstman is taking shots at “Heated Rivalry” for its portrayal of gay sex scenes.
While the HBO Max-acquired series, which follows two closeted hockey pros hiding a passionate romance, has been winning over viewers and critics, Firstman isn’t a fan.
In a new interview with Vulture, the 34-year-old actor discussed a “casual” scene from his HBO Original series, in which his character — Charlie — is seen watching a sex tape he made. The reporter noted how it was a stark contrast from the intimate scenes between the characters on “Heated Rivalry,” which seem “posed.”
“Yeah, we’re going for it. It’s gay. I’m sorry, I watched those first two episodes of ‘Heated Rivalry‘, and it’s just not gay,” Firstman said.
“It’s not how gay people f–k. There’s so few things that actually show gay sex. In the first sex scene, when we both say ‘that part’ after cumming, that’s one of my favorite moments. That is a real thing that is from my life.”
He continued, “Me and this guy were obsessed with saying ‘that part’ for a moment and we both came and just instinctively said it and then laughed a lot. That’s gay to me. A straight guy could not write that. They don’t know what the camaraderie of gay sex is. So, yeah, I think I definitely led the charge with that.”
Later in the interview, Firstman spoke about “Heated Rivalry” again, saying, “A lot of people just want entertainment or to see two straight hockey players pretending to be gay and f–king” — a reference to all the online chatter about the “Heated Rivalry” actors’ sexuality.
“I am one of those bitches who says, ‘Then say it.’ A gay guy would say it,” Firstman, who previously appeared in the now-canceled series “English Teacher,” said.
“I don’t respect you because you care too much about your career and what’s going to happen if people think you’re gay.”
“Heated Rivalry” actors Connor Storrie, 25, and Hudson Williams, 24, recently addressed fan speculation about their sexuality, telling Deadline they prefer to keep that part of themselves private.
Williams said, “I think there’s never a question for me, when I would dream of becoming in the public eye, that I would want just a level of privacy. But of course, I agree. I want queer people telling queer stories, but also, there’s the element of Connor [Storrie] and I — we’re best friends, and we love expressing that physically.”
“Heated Rivalry,” which will conclude its six-episode first season on Dec. 26, will return for Season 2 in 2026.
