Gus Kenworthy had his own ‘heated rivalry’ – and one A-list pop star was part of it

Olympian Gus Kenworthy sees a lot of himself in ‘Heated Rivalry’.

In one interview with The New Yorker published on Sunday, Kenworthy acknowledged the many “parallels” between the series and his own private life, especially in the years before he publicly discussed his sexuality.

“I even wrote a message about it [series creator Jacob Tierney] because I was so moved, and I didn’t expect that. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen myself reflected on screen in such a substantial way,” Kenworthy said. ‘The parallels are quite insane. I also had a secret relationship, with these clandestine meetings and arrangements.

He further noted: “And Miley Cyrus was my own Rose, this famous person who I was suddenly connected to, and as much as I wanted to – because that’s the person you would If you want to be straight, someone who is successful, beautiful and talented – it’s not the same as when you’re with a man.

Based on Rachel Reid’s “Game changers“Heated Rivalry” captured the cultural zeitgeist shortly after it premiered on HBO Max and Canada’s Crave in November to critical acclaim. The six-episode series follows professional hockey players Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), who meet as opponents on the ice but soon become embroiled in a steamy romance behind the scenes.

Over time, Shane’s life in the public eye causes him to become ashamed of his sexuality, and he briefly ends his relationship with Ilya to date a female actor, Rose Landry (Sophie Nélisse).

Kenworthy, now 34, came out as gay in a 2015 interview with ESPN. Three years later, he made waves at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, when NBC aired footage of him sharing a kiss with his then-boyfriend, actor Matthew Wilkas, before a qualifying round.

However, in interviews that predated his coming out, Kenworthy said Cyrus described as his dream celebrity ‘Valentine’, after which the couple followed each other on social media.

While much of the buzz surrounding “Heated Rivalry” has highlighted Williams and Storrie’s characters, Kenworthy said he “really related” to Scott Hunter (François Arnaud), who makes his relationship with friend Kip (Robbie GK) public in one of the shows most memorable scenes.

“He wanted to be away, but he really felt like he couldn’t because of his circumstances,” he said. “I was that way for so many years. I had the same desire: to be in love, to be public and not have to hide.”

In recent years, Kenworthy has branched out into acting and reality television, appearing on “American Horror Story” and Netflix’s “Coming Out Colton,” where he served as a mentor to former “Bachelor” star Colton Underwood. He confirmed that last week he will represent Great Britain at the 2026 Winter Games, which start on February 6 in Milan and Cortina, Italy.

Elsewhere in his conversation with New Yorker, Kenworthy said he auditioned for HBO Max’s “The White Lotus” but didn’t get the part. Still, it sounds like he’s eager to be part of the cast of ‘Heated Rivalry,’ which is indeed the case renewed for a second season, if the opportunity arises.

“You know, I played hockey in high school,” he joked. “I can skate and I know how to use a stick.”