Do you remember how much you were rooting for Dana and Alice to get together?! And then they did! Ugh, the good ‘ol days of new episodes of The L Word...
Quinn found itself recently in hot water after its social media team edited an interview with Storrie and Williams, who also star in an original romantasy series on the online platform, Ember & Ice. In Ember & Ice, Williams voices Finn, a fae prince, who is drawn to Dane (Storrie), the prince from a rival faerie kingdom.
In a clip shared online, Storrie and Williams, known for portraying lovers and hockey rivals in the popular Crave/HBO Max show Heated Rivalry, were asked why they think male/male romance resonates so strongly with women.
Williams answers that "there are straight women, there are trans women, there are gay women, like queer women" who are fans, and so he doesn't think there's one easy answer. However, in the video originally shared by Quinn, Williams says, "there are straight women, there are gay women, like queer women," with "trans women" edited out.
On January 3, the Quinn X account replied to a user who asked about the edit.
The post explained that editors at Quinn cut the mention of "trans women" because "it's not a sexual orientation and he was listing sexual orientations, and we wanted to distinguish the two."
However, some readers weren't happy with this answer.
"He's listing types of women, as he said. not types of sexual orientations," wrote X user Susan Vegas. "do better!"
"Except he wasn't listing sexual orientations originally," wrote X user Bennet Renard. "As you admitted, you edited it, making it seem like he was listing orientations, when in the full cut, he clearly purposefully included trans women when talking abt different women who enjoy MM romance."
On January 4, Quinn's social media released a new statement apologizing for the edit and promising that the platform supports trans women and trans stories. In its apology, the team at Quinn admits it made a mistake and understands "why this edit was offensive and exclusionary."
"Our intention was to avoid conflating gender identity and sexual orientation, but removing that portion from the short-form interview was a mistake. We should have handled it differently," the statement says.
"Over the years, we have consistently celebrated trans stories — we have trans members of our team and community who we see, value, and deeply appreciate, and we are committed to growing our catalogue of trans stories and creators. We appreciate this community for holding us accountable. It will not happen again."
The company also made a $25,000 donation to Trans Lifeline, a nonprofit that provides support and a 24/7 crisis hotline to the transgender community.
Miley Cyrus at the "Avatar: Fire and Ash" World Premiere; Francois Arnaud attends the 31st Annual Critics' Choice Awards
Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images; Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Critics' Choice Association
Several celebrities have shared that they're obsessed with the steamy gay hockey romance show Heated Rivalry — and another A-lister just professed their love for the show over the weekend. Miley Cyrus told Variety on the red carpet at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Saturday that she was "so in" to do some music for the hit HBO Max/Crave show's second season, though she's never seen the show. "I have not watched yet, but this is on my to-do list now," she told the publication. "It’s all I’ve heard about — every conversation I’ve had today has started with you, ‘You have to [watch it].’”
When asked if she wanted to do music for the next season, the 33-year-old pop star said, "Oh, I’m so in. Book me. Get me booked!"
On the red carpet Sunday at the Critics' Choice Awards, Variety asked one of the show's stars, François Arnaud, about his thoughts on the pop star contributing music to the upcoming season, as she had not seen the show. "I think we might get a little bit bigger budget for season 2, but I don’t know if we'll get Miley budget," he responded honestly. "I think if she sees the show, she might give us a discount.”
Arnaud was also asked about where he hopes the storyline for his character Scott and his boyfriend Kip (played by Robbie G.K.) goes in season 2, to which he said, “I would want them to face the continuing challenges of someone uber-famous being with someone who didn’t choose that for his life at all and is forced into it." The actor also poked fun at his co-star and said, "I think Kip, for the second season, has to stop working out. That’s what I want to see. Like, he’s a smoothie boy. Why does he have the best body out of all of us?”
Cyrus isn't the only celebrity discussing Heated Rivalry. On New Year's Eve, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen asked Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile if "lesbians care about Heated Rivalry," to which she responded, "It's all I can think about. I can't even sleep at night without thinking about it."
With five Primetime Emmy nominations, Yang is not only the most-nominated Asian male performer in Emmy history, but also one of the most memorable SNL cast members of the last 20 years, and an LGBTQ+ trailblazer.
"I loved working at SNL, and most of all I loved the people," Yang wrote on Instagram. "I was there at a time when many things in the world started to seem futile, but working at 30 Rock taught me the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile."
As a tribute to this comedy great, we're looking back at some of our favorite Bowen Yang characters and sketches on Saturday Night Live over the years.
The iceberg that sank the Titanic.
One of Yang's most iconic bits on SNL is when he joined Weekend Update as the Iceberg that sank the Titanic, explaining his side of the story and promoting his new "hyper-pop EDM new disco fantasia" album.
"First of all, you came to where I live, and you hit me!" Yang, as the iceberg says. "And before I turn around, and go like, 'what,' half my ass is gone, which was my best feature, and I'm literally injured, and all anyone cares about is 40 or 50 people died or whatever."
"Well, it was 1,500 people," Weekend Update host Colin Jost replies.
The Iceberg shouts, "Why are you attacking me?!"
Where to watch: Saturday Night Live season 46 episode 17, which aired on April 10, 2021.
A proud gay Oompa-Loompa.
In the buildup to Timothée Chalamet playing "twink Willy Wonka" in the Wonka film, Yang went on Weekend Update as an Oompa Loompa who is outed by Colin on live television.
After beginning to read a prepared statement about an Oompa Loompa strike, he's derailed by dealing with his coming out. He tells Colin his parents live in "Loompa Land, it's not as progressive there. They, like, just got Will & Grace. So yeah, it's gonna be a conversation."
"Sorry, I'm just curious, do I just give off a gay vibe?" The Oompa Loompa asks Colin.
When Colin tells him he has "a lot of product in his hair," the Oompa Loompa responds, "Okay, and you just stepped out of the shower like that with yours? Pot kettle. Okay, wow, I'm being a bitch!"
"But honestly, it does feel nice to be out. And, I don't know, maybe now that I'm out of the closet, you can come too, Colin," he says.
Where to watch: Saturday Night Live season 47 episode 3, which aired on October 16, 2021.
Dobby discusses J.K. Rowling.
Yang has never shied away from calling out bigots and ignorance in his comedy, and in 2025, he took a shot at Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling's transphobia when he went on Weekend Update as Dobby the House Elf. A shaking Dobby insisted he wasn't nervous to "publicly weigh in on trans people" and beat himself every time he did something he thought his "master" wouldn't like.
"Why? Dobby doesn't know," Yang says in the sketch, "Perhaps because house elves are somehow always the problem, even though we're only 1 percent of the population. But house elves aren't the victims; Master Rowling is. She gets so much hate mail."
Not even a wardrobe malfunction could stop Yang on this one!
Where to watch: Saturday Night Live season 51 episode 1, which aired on October 4, 2025.
Sara Lee executives meet with social media manager.
In this 2019 sketch, Yang and Cecily Strong play executives at food brand Sara Lee, who call in a social media manager (played by Harry Styles) to talk to him about his inappropriate and chaotic queer tweets from the Sara Lee account.
The social media posts include comments on a "random fashion twink" that include "a few eggplants, water drops, a train, and a ghost emoji" and a cheesecake caption that reads, "A little moody after being used. Why do guys freak out when I ask them to spit in mouth? Need a real king that can handle. It's 8 am and have to go to hell job at sara lee. A little in my head after another threesome."
Where to watch: Saturday Night Live season 45 episode 6, which aired on November 16, 2019.
Moo Deng comments on newfound fame.
In 2024, Yang dressed up as viral baby hippo Moo Deng for a Weekend Update appearance where he called out over-zealous fans of artists like Chappell Roan while getting sprayed in the face with water from a hose and having shellfish thrown at him.
"Honestly, Colin, sometimes I feel like I live my life in a cage, you know? Like an animal, trapped in a zoo, for people to look at," the zoo star quips. (Yang as) Moo Deng also defends Roan, saying as a fellow viral star, he understands what she's going through.
"Let her take as much time as she needs for her mental health. We both deserve patience and grace… so stop harassing her, and stop throwing shellfish at her," Moo Deng says. "This is what society does: it puts young women on pedestals only to knock them down with shellfish."
Where to watch: Saturday Night Live season 50 episode 1, which aired on September 28, 2024.
Bowen's straight.
When Sydney Sweeney came on SNL as a host, Bowen revealed his greatest secret: He's actually straight and plays a gay character on the show. When Sweeney laments to cast members Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim that she has a crush on Bowen, they encourage the actress to go for it. "Bowen pulls!" they tell her.
From there, Yang puts on his best straight-face, telling Sweeney that his type is: "blonde, smart, heavy naturals" and shrugging off Sweeney after they sleep together. "Yeah, I got a lot going on," he tells her. "Plus, I got to keep up appearances with the whole 'gay' thing. It's kind of my meal ticket."
Where to watch: Saturday Night Live season 49 episode 13, which aired on March 2, 2024.
Gay man with a straight male friend.
When NFL player Travis Kelce hosted SNL, Yang produced a commercial for a "Straight Male Friend," a "low-effort, low-stakes relationship" that requires "no emotional commitment, no financial investment," and "no drama."
When Bowen needs a break from his girl friends, he's able to turn to his straight male friend, a friend who won't talk about his personal problems, doesn't care if he gets ignored for months or even years. The only drawback? He "isn't perfect, and may ask blunt questions about your sex life," but don't worry, "he's only asking because he's honestly curious. There's something sweet about that."
Where to watch: Saturday Night Live season 48 episode 14, which aired on March 4, 2023.
The trend forecasters.
In Yang's final SNL episode, his former costar Aidy Bryant returned as the other half of this fabulous duo of trend forecasters on Weekend Update.
In their several appearances, the two highly fashionable, cutting-edge trendsetters call out things that are in (shirt too big for body, hat too small for head) and out (movie posters as decor; "Are you a damn Band-Aid? Because I want to rip you off!" Yang shouts).
The experts also go over trends in fruit, babies, men, and anything else you might need advice on.
Where to watch: Saturday Night Live season 47 episode 12, which aired on January 29, 2022.
A SoulCycle instructor.
In this classic sketch, Yang teamed up with fellow queer cast member Kate McKinnon to play some very intense tryout SoulCycle instructors.
"I live life with no regrets," Yang tells his class. "Abraham Lincoln died. It didn't have to happen. Poor guy, if I would've been there, I would've stopped it. But I wasn't. Will you be? Let's ride!"
"This morning I googled 'racism,' and guess what? It bummed me out," he says the next time he gets on the bike. "And then I googled 'gay racism,' and that was even worse. So you know what I did? I flushed my computer down the toilet because I don't need that negativity in my life. Let's ride!"
Where to watch: Saturday Night Live season 45 episode 3, which aired on November 12, 2019.
George Santos's expelled cold open.
One of Yang's best recurring characters is former politician and convicted criminalGeorge Santos. In one of his most memorable performances, Yang appeared as Santos in the SNL cold open, holding a press conference after being expelled from Congress.
"This entire country has been bullying me because I am a proud gay thief," he says. "What else is new? America hates to see a Latina Queen winning. Since the day I was elected, it's been a witch hunt. But if I'm guilty of anything, it's for loving too much/fraud."
After explaining that he'll be seen as "the modern Princess Diana" and "the modern Marilyn Monroe, he sings a beautiful rendition of Elton John's "Candle in the Wind," retitled "Scandal in the Wind."
Where to watch: Saturday Night Live season 49 episode 7, which aired on December 2, 2023.
First openly bottom guy on 'SNL.'
When Shang-Chi star Simu Liu hosted SNL in 2021, he and Yang made history as the first Asian male host and Asian male cast member to star together in an episode.
In this sketch, the two men are having a first-off, bragging about being the "first Asian Marvel Lead" and "first fully Asian cast member on SNL," adding that they got awards for things like "first gay Asian cast member to mispronounce 'boutique'" and "first Asian man to deadpan on Splash Mountain."
"You know, it's almost embarrassing, I didn't even tell anyone about being one of People's Sexiest Men Alive."
"Weren't you the first openly bottom guy on that list?" Liu asks.
"I'm not open about that. Who told you that?" Yang responds.
"Oh, sorry, I just guessed," Liu fires back, prompting a "Oh nice! Good job!" from Yang.
Where to watch: Saturday Night Live season 47 episode 7, which aired on November 20, 2021.
Pedro Pascal at a promotional event for Eddington during the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival in May 2025; Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams on Heated Rivalry.
In case you didn't know, Pedro Pascal has been stanning Heated Rivalry just like the rest of us, and fandoms for both the actor and the Crave/HBO Max series are now clocking his sweet and hilarious reactions to social media posts about the gay hockey show that's taken over the world.
Over the weekend, fan accounts like @pascalarchive, @blueberryskip, @BuzzingPop, @wonderxboy, and @PedroPNation started surfacing likes, comments, and reactions from the Fantastic Four and The Last of Us actor that directly referenced the Heated Rivalry show.
As seen below, Pascal liked Heated Rivalry posts from Instagram users like @kierra_lewis1 ("when ur tipsy but still remember you must spread the gospel of Heated Rivalry") and @daisymoon.28 ("what it feels like when your country is burning to the ground, but Canada gives you a gay hockey show at least").
Even more notably, Pascal commented on an Instagram video of people at a sports bar losing their minds while watching Heated Rivalry episode 5, "I'll Believe in Anything," which led to a hilarious back-and-forth between the actor and Instagram user @francisdominiic.
"My local sports bar reacting to the end of Heated Rivalry episode 5! This is insane!" the original poster wrote over the Instagram video.
Dominic wrote in the caption, "The way the crowd reacts to Heated Rivalry episode 5 is insane!!!!!! This is how this show should've been viewed!!! What a special experience!!!!!!! Just wanna show y'all's impact because of this show, [author Rachel Reid] and [showrunner Jacob Tierney]."
"Watching Heated Rivalry in a packed sports bar is truly the experience of a lifetime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he concluded. "So many of us here who like men who love men on screen!!! I will never forget this!!!!!!!!!" He also thanked GYM Bar WeHo for hosting the viewing party.
Pascal commented under the post with three heart emojis.
Dominic reacted to Pascal's comment with a hilarious video in which he's seen trying to hide a Pedro Pascal merch T-shirt and acknowledging the actor's comment as casually as possible.
"Pedro Pascal! What are we doing here?!" Dominic said in the video. "If you need someone to just watch Heated Rivalry with you, or any movies or television… I'm available! I live here in LA… also New York… or wherever you want me to fly to."
Dominic concluded, "Y'know, this friendship is available… Okay, love you, thanks for being here."
Pascal also reacted to that subsequent video shared by Dominic — this time sharing a melting-face emoji in the comments section.
Dominic didn't miss out on the chance to respond to Pascal's subsequent comment, and revealed that Pascal had since followed him on Instagram, too.
"Hi Pedro! I guess we're doing this, huh?" the content creator said in the follow-up other video. "I'm down for the friendship. You're down for the friendship."
(Text appears over the video, which reads: "Us being mutuals was not in my bingo card btw…")
Dominic concludes, "Okay! You know where to find me. I'll see you soon."
The National Hockey League is the only major North American men's sports league with no current or former players who have come out.
esfera/shutterstock
The queer hockey romance Heated Rivalryis taking over North America, airing on Crave Canada and HBO Max, but how similar is the real-life NHL to this popular show?
While there has been significant progress made by out athletes in many North American sports, as Outsports recently pointed out, the National Hockey League is still the final of the four major North American men's sports leagues with no current or former players who have come out.
Heated Rivalry follows professional hockey players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), who play for different teams in a fictional version of the NHL. As the two superstars face off on the ice and build their rivalry, they also start a secret romance. As Hollander and Rozanov's relationship gets deeper, the two men must face the pressures of masculinity, toughness, and being in a pro sports league where gay players stay closeted.
Similarly, the real-life NHL has a culture that has never produced an out gay player, even one who came out after they retired.
Jason Collins made sports history when he came out as gay in 2013, becoming the first NBA player and first active athlete in one of North America's four major men's sports leagues to come out publicly.
There have been over 30 college and pro football players who have come out as gay, including former NFL players Dave Kopay, Jerry Smith, Ray Simmons, Wade Davis, and Ryan O'Callaghan, who all came out after retiring. In 2021, Raiders player Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to come out.
Major League Baseball has had several players come out after retiring, and several whose sexuality was widely known by their peers when they were playing. Los Angeles Dodgers star Glenn Burke, often credited with inventing the high five, was out to his teammates and coaches while playing and came out publicly in 1982.
Billy Bean, who played pro baseball in the 80s and 90s, publicly came out as gay in 1999, and in 2014 was named MLB's first ambassador for inclusion.
In 2022, former MLB player TJ House came out as gay, making him the third pro baseball player to do so.
While the NHL still has no out gay players, active or retired, there is hope. The Professional Women's Hockey League has 30 out queer players playing this year.
There is also an NHL prospect, Luke Prokop, who is out as gay. He was drafted 73rd overall in the 2020 NHL draft by the Nashville Predators, and in 2021, he came out as gay. Since being drafted, he's played in several minor leagues, and currently plays for the Bakersfield Condors, an affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, of the AHL. If the 23-year-old makes the NHL, he will be its first out player.
Other NHL veterans say that while there have been no out players, it's very unlikely that no gay players have ever been in the league.
Former NHL star Sean Avery told Rolling Stone that while he doesn't "know firsthand of any gay players past or present," he does "think I must have had a gay closeted teammate at some point in my career."
"Heated Rivalry’s success should open the door for the first gay NHL player, if there is one," he says.