Hudson Williams has explained why his close friendship with Heated Rivalry co-star Connor Storrie does not need a romantic label. Williams emphasised that the pair are 'platonic soulmates' who can share physical affection without developing romantic feelings.
The actor made the candid admission during an appearance on CBC's The Assembly, which premiered on Sunday, 1 November. He spoke out after an interviewer asked whether he had ever felt something for Storrie beyond friendship.
'No,' Williams replied, then explained how quickly the two actors realised they shared a particularly strong connection. He described their friendship as stable and beautiful because they could be themselves without feeling the need to keep their guard up.
The 25-year-old actor then offered an especially memorable description of their closeness: 'Me and that man could cuddle for 10 hours, and it just mean cuddling, just mean we just love each other dearly, but don't wanna beep each other's bop.'
Williams immediately acknowledged that his improvised expression was not an actual saying, adding, 'That's not a saying,' which prompted laughter from the interviewers.
The exchange was shared on Reddit, where viewers celebrated the actor's affectionate description of his friendship with Storrie. Some commenters said more men should feel comfortable expressing physical affection towards their friends without having their relationships automatically interpreted as romantic.
Platonic Soulmates
Williams appeared on the second season of The Assembly, a CBC interview programme in which celebrities answer questions from autistic and neurodivergent interviewers. The format encourages guests to respond to questions that might not ordinarily come up in conventional celebrity interviews.
One interviewer, Nate, directly asked Williams whether his feelings for Storrie had ever gone beyond friendship. The question has drawn attention as the actors portray Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov in Heated Rivalry, characters whose complicated romantic relationship is central to the series. Their physical chemistry and intimate scenes led some viewers to become equally interested in their off-screen dynamic.
Williams, however, drew a clear distinction between the fictional romance and his real-life friendship with Storrie. He explained that the two quickly recognised their compatibility as friends and developed a connection that allowed them to be emotionally open and comfortable around each other.
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His description of them as platonic soulmates became one of the most memorable parts of the interview. Rather than dismissing their closeness, Williams emphasised how much he values it, describing their ability to express affection without romantic expectations as part of what makes the friendship special.
He also joked about wanting Storrie around more often, even suggesting that his friend could help him in the shower because he struggles to reach certain areas with a loofah. The additional joke reinforced the relaxed and playful tone of the conversation.
Fans Speculations Fuelled
The friendship between Williams and Storrie has been a recurring subject of online discussion since Heated Rivalry became a popular television series. The actors play hockey rivals whose relationship develops into a secret romance spanning several years. Their performances need them to portray considerable intimacy, and promotional appearances have given viewers glimpses of their comfortable off-screen relationship.
The pair have frequently hugged, complimented one another and displayed physical affection during interviews. Their interactions have inspired fans to create ship names, edits and real-person fan fiction imagining that their on-screen relationship might exist outside the programme.
Storrie has addressed the speculation. The actor said in an interview that Williams is his best friend and that the intimate scenes did not feel particularly romantic to him because he was acting alongside someone he trusted.
In a December 2025 interview with W Magazine, Storrie also described meeting Williams as one of the highlights of his life, explaining that they had entered the project at similar points in their careers and experienced the sudden attention together.
'Hudson is my best friend, and I literally can't fathom doing this without him,' he said.
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Physical Affection Between Male Friends
The actor's latest comments match the remarks he made during an appearance on Andy Cohen's Radio Andy on SiriusXM in January 2026. Williams discussed how physical affection between men is often treated as something inherently sexual, rather than an ordinary way of showing friendship and appreciation.
He said he found the assumption frustrating, explaining that people should be able to express affection towards those they admire without others automatically interpreting their behaviour as romantic or sexual. Williams also said he intended to continue showing affection towards Storrie regardless of how audiences interpreted their interactions.
The actor explained that their regular communication had helped him navigate the sudden changes in their careers. Although Storrie was an 'awful texter', Williams said they regularly FaceTimed and called each other, giving them a reliable source of support while both adjusted to their growing public profiles.
Addressing the Rumours
The actors have also tried to draw boundaries between their professional partnership and their private friendship. Following their appearance together at the 2026 Met Gala in May, Williams responded to online speculation about their relationship with a message on Threads: 'Rpfing gotta stop y'all.'
RPF, or real-person fiction, refers to fan-created stories that imagine romantic or other personal relationships between actual public figures. Williams' response reflected his discomfort with audiences treating fictional pairings as evidence about the actors' private lives.
The cast also issued a joint statement addressing racist, homophobic, biphobic, misogynistic and other discriminatory behaviour. The statement was directed at members of the production and their colleagues.
Williams' Refreshing Take on Friendship
The Reddit discussion surrounding the interview was largely positive, with users praising Williams for speaking openly about platonic affection between men. One commenter suggested that the world would be a better place if more men felt comfortable cuddling their male friends. Others shared personal experiences of affectionate friendships, arguing that physical closeness should not automatically be interpreted as sexual.
While fans may continue celebrating their on-screen chemistry, Williams has made clear that the connection he values most is the one they share away from the cameras.
