Margaret Cho Reveals the Real Reason She Turned Down a Role in ‘Heated Rivalry’
Margaret Cho says she turned down a role in Heated Rivalry “all because of Trump.”
Mark
Margaret Cho almost joined the world of Heated Rivalry, and now queer fans are mourning the casting that could have been.
While appearing on the “I Never Liked You” podcast, Cho shared that she was originally offered a role in the queer hockey drama but ultimately turned it down out of fear surrounding border crossings and possible ICE detainment. “It Kills Me”: Cho Reflects on Passing on the Series
“Last year, I got a pilot script for a show that I really loved, but it shot in Canada, and I was so scared because I’m so vocal about hating ICE and hating this administration,” Cho explained. “I was like, I will get detained at the border, and I will be put in ICE detention if I go.”
The comedian said the decision weighed heavily on her at the time because she immediately connected with the series.
“I was super upset about it, and I said no,” Cho recalled before revealing the project was Heated Rivalry. Gasp!
The Canadian series quickly became a favorite among LGBTQ+ audiences thanks to its emotionally messy, deeply romantic story centered on rival hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Adapted from Rachel Reid’s bestselling queer sports romance novels, the show stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie as the secret lovers at the center of the story.
Photo: Crave/HBO Max
Though Cho was not part of the iconic series, the actress and comedian admitted she has since fully embraced the fandom from afar.
“The pilot was beautiful,” she said, adding that she has even hosted Heated Rivalry rewatch parties. “It kills me. And it’s all because of Trump.”
Photo: Crave/HBO Max
Season 2 is Just Around the Corner
There may still be hope for fans dreaming of a Margaret Cho appearance, though. The bisexual icon revealed she has already reached out about joining Season 2.
“We’ll see,” Cho teased.
Cho is hardly the only celebrity hoping to get involved with Season 2. Since Heated Rivalry exploded with LGBTQ+ audiences, a growing list of stars have either publicly campaigned for a cameo or shown love for the series online. Pedro Pascal, Miley Cyrus, and Orville Peck are just a few of the names that have entered the chat. At this point, everyone seems to want a spot somewhere in Shane and Ilya’s world — and honestly, we fully support the chaos.
Season 2 of Heated Rivalry is currently in development and is expected to adapt “The Long Game,” the follow-up novel continuing Shane and Ilya’s relationship beyond the events of the first season.
