The second season of Heated Rivalry starring Jill Biden? Not so fast – but almost.
While attending the live from the NYC LGBT Center Gala as a surprise guest, the former First Lady reportedly bid $35,000 for a walk on role in Heated Rivalry season 2, former Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Versha Sharma shared on social media.
Despite her attempt, Biden was outbid, with the final winners having bid $125,000 each.
“Guess I won’t be heading to the cottage after all — but it was worth a shot! What a wonderful evening supporting @LGBTCenterNYC,” Biden tweeted.
The Center’s signature LGBTQ+ nonprofit fundraising gala raises “vital funds to sustain life-saving programs and services. This annual gala, held at the iconic Cipriani Wall Street, brings together community members and allies to celebrate leaders and advocates whose work advances justice, equity and safety for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers,” a description reads on the Center’s website.
Thursday’s gala honored Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady. Game Changers author Rachel Reid presented Tierney with the Cultural Impact Award.
Heated Rivalry, hailing from Canadian streamer Crave and airing on HBO Max in the U.S., centers on two rival professional players — Canada-born Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Russia-born Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) — navigating a secret romance. The series, which drew in a large audience, has gained praise and recognition for its representation of a queer love story and made Williams and Storrie overnight sensations.
“I just hope that people — no matter what you think you need to be in life or what is expected of you — just be yourself. Even if that breaks some sort of boundary, even if there’s not a word for it, even if there’s not space for that in whatever realm you live in. Just be that,” Storrie told The Hollywood Reporter of his hopes for people’s takeaway from the series.
“Fight for yourself like your best friend, and don’t be ashamed of anything that exists within yourself,” Williams added.
Heated Rivalry season 2 will adapt Reid’s book The Long Game, and is slated for an HBO Max premiere in next April.
