Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams has come under fire after a photograph from his high school days, showing him with a swastika drawn on his forehead, resurfaced online. The 25-year-old Canadian actor rose to fame in 2025 for his breakout role as Shane Hollander in the HBO Max hockey romance drama, alongside Connor Storrie, who plays Ilya Rozanov.
Photo Sparks Outrage
The image, which has been widely circulated on social media, depicts Williams posing with a swastika scribbled in black ink on his face. Sources close to the actor told TMZ that the photo was taken during an annual teenage "campout" tradition, where participants party and cover each other's shirts and bodies with Sharpie drawings. According to the publication, Williams was unaware of what was being drawn on his face at the time. A friend stated to TMZ that "the markings do not and have never reflected Hudson's beliefs, values or character."
Williams Expresses Regret
Sources reported that Williams "understands the hurt and disappointment the photo has caused and deeply regrets it." They added that he "does not condone or support the offensive markings that were drawn on him and recognises the seriousness of the symbol."
Public Reaction Divided
After the image circulated on X, users were quick to slam the actor. One person commented, "How exactly was he unaware when it was clear on his forehead." Another said, "And what about his friend cosplaying as Hitler or them having AIDS written all over them. Was he walking around the party with his eyes closed." A third added, "Teens have common sense, y’all need to stop trying to excuse stuff as 'teenage stupidity' for these celebrities and hold them accountable."
However, some fans came to Williams' defence. One user wrote, "The real crime is how fast the internet turns teenage stupidity into lifelong headlines." Another said, "This is such a f...ing non story. Your actions as a silly teenager don’t define you. Hudson doesn’t owe anyone any kind of explanation or apologies. My god, if the entire internet had their teenage years hung out then nobody would get anything done." A third added, "Teenagers make mistakes."
Background on Hudson Williams
Before landing his role in the unexpected viral show, Williams studied acting at Langara College, worked as a restaurant server in Vancouver, and appeared in smaller projects while writing and directing short films. PerthNow has contacted Williams’ representative for comment.
