Author and Star of ‘Heated Rivalry’ Share Thoughts on Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper’s Debate About Their Roles in an LGBTQ+ Drama

Robbie G.K. and Rachel Reid Respond to Cohen and Cooper’s Banter on ‘Heated Rivalry’

During CNN’s live New Year’s Eve special on Wednesday night, hosts Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper engaged in a playful exchange about the hit Canadian series Heated Rivalry, much to the delight of its fans, including author Rachel Reid and actor Robbie G.K.

In their lively back-and-forth, Cohen and Cooper humorously debated who would portray the characters Ilya and Shane from the LGBTQ+ sports romance. Amid laughter and light-hearted teasing, Cooper remarked upon a reference to a shared bed, implying discomfort. "There was something about sleeping in your bed… It just, I don’t know," he said.

“The bed frame,” Cohen quickly interjected. “I didn’t give you the mattress,” he added, prompting further amusement from Cooper, who replied, “Well, I know. But I don’t know. I just…”

Cohen then quipped, “I thought that it made us like closer. Like better brothers, or something.” Cooper countered with laughter, asserting, “This isn’t Heated Rivalry.” The banter escalated as they continued to debate their respective roles, with Cohen insisting he would be Shane and Cooper asserting, “I’m Kip.”

Reid, who created the Game Changers book series that inspired Heated Rivalry, shared a screenshot of the exchange on her Instagram Stories with the caption, “I keep thinking nothing can surprise me at this point, but…”

Robbie G.K., who portrays Kip in Heated Rivalry, also echoed the sentiment by sharing the clip.

Set against the backdrop of competitive hockey, Heated Rivalry follows the tumultuous relationship between rival players Shane and Ilya, portrayed by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. Their initial rivalry gradually develops into a significant romantic connection.

Following its successful debut, Canadian streaming platform Crave has officially renewed Heated Rivalry for a second season. HBO Max retains distribution rights for the U.S. and Australia, along with Sky in the UK and Ireland. Notably, the series has become Crave’s most popular original offering, witnessing a nearly 400% increase in its audience in the first week after its launch on November 28, according to internal data from mParticle and Amazon Channels.