Heated Rivalry Star On How His Mom (And Co-Star’s Mom) Feels About Those Steamy Sex Scenes

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When a show focuses heavily on romantic connection like Heated Rivalry, it’s only a matter of time before the discussion shifts from the show’s production to personal reactions – specifically, how parents will respond. For Connor Storrie, one of the show’s leads, that moment came when he realized just how passionate the series would be. Heated Rivalry doesn’t just hint at romance; it fully embraces it. While fans are excited about this, actors anticipate their families might have a different reaction.

The show’s surprisingly explicit content and rapid success were recently discussed in an interview with Variety. Storrie talked openly about how they’ve handled the show’s reputation and the fact that many viewers are watching with their parents – sometimes intentionally looking away. Based on Rachel Reid’s novel, the series has quickly become a hit for HBO Max, turning the actors into instant online celebrities. However, the most genuine reactions are still coming from people’s families, as Storrie explained.

My mom actually watched some of the show, and I remember telling her, ‘It’s pretty steamy, and now it’s on HBO!’ You know HBO always means it’s going to be a bit much. She asked me how I felt about all the sex, and I told her I was good with it. Then I turned it around and asked her how she felt, and she said as long as I was okay, she was okay too. Of course, she said she wasn’t ready for the actual sex scenes, and I reassured her she didn’t have to watch them. I definitely didn’t want her to feel like she needed to!

The conversation is surprisingly mature and respectful. Storrie is proud of his work, and his mother isn’t making him regret it. They both just recognize that not everyone in the family might want to watch everything he creates.

This same pattern extended to the family of his co-star, but this time, the discomfort happened right before their eyes. At the show’s premiere, Storrie asked Hudson Williams’ mother about her experience watching the series on the big screen, and he explained:

Even Hudson’s mom reacted strongly! We were at the premiere, and when I asked her what she thought, she said she had to cover her eyes for most of the movie. I totally understood – it must be strange watching your son in something like that.

Calling the show ‘strange’ doesn’t quite capture it, but it was almost expected. The creators of Heated Rivalry are very upfront about their intentions, and the show doesn’t shy away from portraying desire honestly. This is a major reason why it’s connected with so many viewers, particularly those who are rarely shown genuine intimacy as a core part of a story, rather than just as something shocking.

Storrie points out that it’s all about how you look at it. Audiences see the drama unfolding, but he remembers the intense planning and teamwork that actually goes into creating those exciting scenes.

HBO Max subscriptions begin at $10.99 per month. You can enjoy romance shows like Heated Rivalry, along with thousands of other movies, shows, and documentaries. The basic plan with ads costs $10.99, and all subscription levels offer access to a vast library of content. See the deal here.

The mothers’ responses are typical for this kind of content – they’re encouraging and proud, but also comfortable with setting boundaries about what they’ll watch. Considering the show focuses on honesty and vulnerability, that balance might actually be the most healthy approach.

New episodes of Heated Rivalry are released every Friday at midnight Eastern Time (9 p.m. Pacific Time) and will continue through December as part of the 2025 TV lineup. The season will conclude with a finale on December 26th.

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2025-12-14 22:39