Straight hockey podcasters who publicly celebrated Heated Rivalry privately trashed the show and its creators, according to reporting by Outsports.
The reporting centres on brothers Dan and Chris Powers, former ice hockey players and hosts of the popular US podcast Empty Netters.
The pair became unlikely queer-culture figures after openly embracing the gay ice hockey romance Heated Rivalry.
For many LGBTQIA+ viewers, especially queer men with sporting backgrounds, their public enthusiasm felt rare and affirming.
But private texts have emerged that appear to contradict their public allyship.
Public praise
On the podcast, Dan Powers spoke enthusiastically about Heated Rivalry from its first episode.
“What I loved about this is they throw us into the show,” Powers said.
“They’re like, ‘Were you expecting a hockey show? Wrong. This is horned-up action, baby. Strap in,’” he added.
“And I was like, ‘Let’s f**king go.’”
Reacting to another early scene, Powers told listeners, “I thought this was cute as hell. They start laughing with each other. I thought it was great.”
Summing up his reaction to the first episode, Powers said, “This show is out of control in all the best ways.”
They have shown emotion during pivotal scenes of the show and praised it during their recorded reactions.
The podcasters received positive critiques from media outlets and fans for showing “non-toxic masculinity.”
One gay man posted how much their coverage meant to him.
“I could have never imagined that one day I’d be tearing up listening to some hockey players get emotional over a hot gay hockey romance TV show,” he said.
“These guys represent everything that can be beautiful about modern masculinity, and it felt like a balm to my soul.”
Private texts tell a different story
According to Outsports, Dan Powers sent a series of private text messages sharply criticising the show.
“I think these losers who made this show are cowards,” Powers wrote in one message seen by Outsports.
In another message, he complained, “This is the trash they make because it panders, it’s provocative, and it checks inclusivity boxes.”
Powers also reportedly bristled at the show’s early reception, writing that the positive response was “making blue-haired Twitter happy.”
At one point, he said he refused to give the series “the time of day” simply “out of principle.”
Those private messages were sent before the podcast began its highly enthusiastic public coverage of the show.
Views, money and merchandise
Outsports reports that Heated Rivalry coverage dramatically boosted Empty Netters’ audience.
Recap episodes for the series attracted nearly 500,000 views on YouTube, compared with an average of around 13,500 views for other episodes.
The podcast has also sold Heated Rivalry-themed merchandise, including shirts and crewnecks referencing storylines from the show.
Is this a case of changing their ways from watching the show or praising it only when it’s popular and suits them for clout and financial reward?
Dan Powers has yet to comment on the story and explain his private criticism.
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