François Arnaud has unfollowed his “Heated Rivalry” co-stars and collaborators, including Hudson Williams, Robbie G.K., Connor Storrie, and series creator Jacob Tierney. The 40-year-old actor reduced his Instagram “following” list from over 1,000 to 213 accounts amid online harassment stemming from dating rumors.
Speculation began after Arnaud was photographed leaving New York’s JFK Airport with Storrie, 25, following promotional events for their hockey drama series. Some fans expressed disapproval online, suggesting Storrie should instead be romantically paired with Williams, 24.
Social media reactions intensified, with supporters condemning the harassment: “They need to leave this gentle king alone,” wrote one fan, while another noted, “The comments and harassment are horrible and unjustified.” Concerns also arose about Arnaud potentially leaving the show, with one user warning, “If because of toxic fans we don’t get François in Season 2, I’m gonna lose my mind.”
Online vitriol reportedly escalated to death threats against Arnaud, prompting defenders to criticize the fandom’s extreme reactions: “THE QUEER MAN ON THIS SHOW IS GETTING DEATH THREATS. This fandom is full of people who belong in padded rooms.”
In the series, Williams and Storrie portray rival hockey players engaged in a secret romance, while Arnaud plays Scott Hunter. Representatives for both actors haven’t responded to media inquiries.
Arnaud previously revealed feeling overwhelmed by social media attention during a Sirius XM podcast appearance, even joking about deleting his account after actress Helen Hunt complimented his work: “I’m like, ‘Oh delete Instagram now. This is my happy ending.’”