‘Heated Rivalry’ actor calls out NHL commissioner Gary Bettman

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman revealed on Thursday that he binge-watched the entire HBO Crave series Heated Rivalry in one night, the hit drama exploring a gay love story between two professional hockey players.

While Bettman and many fans have praised the show, one of its stars wants more than applause.

Actor François Arnaud is calling on the NHL to translate words into action, particularly when leveraging the series to reach wider audiences:

“If you’re gonna use our name then just back up with real life sht like [unbanning] the pride [tapes and jerseys].”

The comment references a controversial decision by the NHL a few years ago to ban rainbow-coloured stick tape during Pride Nights. Updated league guidance now prohibits any alterations to on-ice uniforms and gear for themed games, including Pride, Hockey Fights Cancer, and military appreciation nights.

Back in January 2023, Philadelphia Flyers’ Ivan Provorov opted out of warm-ups during Pride Night, citing his Russian Orthodox faith. Six other players, including Russians Ilya Lyubushkin, Denis Gurianov, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Canadians James Reimer and brothers Eric and Marc Staal, also declined for personal reasons. Some teams, like the New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, and Chicago Blackhawks, even chose not to have any players wear Pride jerseys during warm-ups.

Arnaud’s message is clear: while the NHL celebrates cultural moments on screen, he wants the league to reflect the same inclusivity on the ice.

For fans, players, and creators, Pride should be more than a storyline.