After Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams attended his first Academy Awards on March 15, the star of the hit series made his Vanity Fair party debut with a relationship reveal.
Williams starred on Heated Rivalry as Shane Hollander, a professional hockey player struggling with his sexuality amid an intense years-long relationship with his league rival, Ilya Rozanov.
Williams, who appeared on the red carpet with Heated Rivalry co-star Connor Storrie (via Cosmopolitan), hard-launched his relationship with his girlfriend, Katelyn Rose Larson, at the post-show event.
While Williams and Storrie appeared on the carpet together wearing matching sheer blouses, the pair weren’t the only ones who posed for the cameras during the photo call. Williams and Larson, who have been sharing more of their relationship on social media since the show’s meteoric rise in popularity, were photographed together as well.
Larson, who wore a sheer black lace dress to the high-profile event, posed alongside Williams on the carpet, marking a first for the low-key couple. While Williams has been open about not wanting to bring his relationship into the public eye, sharing with Deadline that “I would want just a level of privacy” surrounding his personal life, it’s clear he’s looking to make it known that there’s a marked difference between himself and his character.
Throughout the past several months, the whirlwind rise of Heated Rivalry has brought speculation and criticism to the cast, especially Williams and Storrie. While Storrie has remained quiet about his own rumored relationship with fellow Heated Rivalry co-star François Arnaud, Williams choosing to bring Larson into the spotlight proves he’s growing more comfortable with a new level of attention.
After recent fan behavior left Williams, Storrie, Arnaud, and others involved with Heated Rivalry speaking out about the intense public scrutiny, seeing Williams make a clear statement felt like a step in the right direction.