Actors Hudson Williams and François Arnaud are making it clear: being a fan should never involve spreading hate.
The two stars of the series Heated Rivalry took to social media on Monday (March 9) to address the wave of abusive comments and messages they say have been directed at them online. In a shared statement posted to their Instagram Stories, the actors spoke directly to the individuals sending harmful messages and pushed back against behavior they say has crossed a line.
“Don’t call yourself a fan if you share racist/homophobic/biphobic/misogynistic/ageist/ableist/parasocial/bigoted comments of any kind,” Hudson and Francois both wrote. “None of us need your hateful ‘love.’”
Their message didn’t stop there. The actors emphasized that the cast and creative team behind Heated Rivalry stand together — and that the negativity circulating online doesn’t reflect the spirit of the project itself.
“We all respect and support and love each other and are on the same side,” they continued. “If you can’t accept that [get the f–k out of here].”
The statement quickly spread among members of the show’s cast. Actress Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, who plays Svetlana on the series, reposted the message to her own Instagram Story while adding a heartfelt note encouraging viewers to keep the conversation around the show positive.
“Plz don’t make a show that’s about love be hateful online. So much love was poured into this project and we all genuinely have so much respect for everyone involved in making this.”
Kharlamova also reminded followers that the actors behind the characters deserve the same respect fans would expect for themselves.
“We’re not characters and neither are our real friends, partners, family and making up false narratives about us isn’t ‘love,’” she continued. “So much good has come from this show so let’s keep that going!! Share the love, the art, the dance parties, the friends made, the positivity!!”
Actor Robbie G.K. also showed support by reposting the statement to his own Instagram Story, adding crown and heart emojis.
However, the conversation didn’t end there. After the message circulated widely, some social media users questioned how the statement had been written. One commenter accused Arnaud of copying Williams’ message without crediting him.
The comment read, “Should probably credit Hudson for his note message defending himself against the hate vs copying and pasting it to your own post acting like you drafted it.”
Arnaud responded directly to the criticism.
“I did draft this message and Hudson and I tweaked it together and wanted to make a joint statement. We thank you for your concern.”
Williams later addressed the situation as well, responding to a social media user who suggested he was facing severe racial abuse without enough support from his co-stars.
The actor replied, “It was Francois’ idea and I helped write it! I don’t scroll comments so I did not see the hate. I was vibing watching figure skating highlights.”
Their responses underscored the original message: the cast is united, and the focus should remain on supporting each other — and the creative work they’ve brought to life on screen.
