Did the cast of 'Heated Rivalry' actually refuse to work with each other? The truth is revealed.

Insiders say the 'Heated Rivalry' actors didn't skip the 'Actors on Actors' event because of the Emmys; they were simply too busy.

BY Mahnoor | 02-06-2026

Sources told TMZ that the stars of 'Heated Rivalry' did not refuse to join Variety's 'Actors on Actors' series because of Emmy rules, even though people online thought that was the reason.

Connor Storrie, Hudson Williams, and François Arnaud were invited to join a popular interview series, but they did not participate. Some experts thought they declined because of award season politics or the show's lack of Emmy eligibility. However, people close to the production told TMZ this was not true.

 Instead, insiders say the actors were simply too busy due to the huge success of 'Heated Rivalry.' One actor was even out of the country when the filming was supposed to happen, making it impossible for them to join.

The show cannot win an Emmy because its Canadian streaming service did not enter it into the awards. However, sources said this did not affect whether the actors were available or how they made their decisions.

Setoodeh had earlier praised the three actors, calling Connor Storrie "extraordinary," Hudson Williams "charming," and François Arnaud "magnetic," and mentioned that fans of the show really love them.

Despite rumors, people close to the show say there was no plan to campaign for Emmy awards. Instead, the actors are simply very busy because the show has become very popular.

Right now, there is no sign of conflict between the production, the actors, or Variety. Sources say the scheduling problem was just a coincidence, not on purpose.

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