Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Kayleigh Donaldson | Celebrity | October 28, 2026
The mega-success of Heated Rivalry turned its two unknown leads, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, into stars. For their colleague, François Arnaud, it also elevated his profile massively but he was slightly more prepared for the madness. Shout out to my fellow The Borgias watchers who knew all about Arnaud before he put on his skates. Being a solid decade older than the central pair, and an established performer in Canadian and Quebecois entertainment, Arnaud has often felt like the older brother finding a way through the blinding spectacle of sudden celebrity and all of its terrifying trappings. Seriously, this fandom scares me.
For Arnaud, the increase in attention has been intense. Check out the comments section of his social media for some truly wild things. Speculation over his love life has also slid into conspiracy territory, with some tinhatters (including the stalker once known as Club Chalamet) insisting he's in a super secret romance with Storrie. As an out bisexual actor, Arnaud's had to contend with some high-level parasocial weirdness. And he's aware of what it means to suddenly become a big deal. For one thing, he has had to become far more guarded in interviews.
In an interview with La Presse, Arnaud was asked if fame had changed him. He said, "I don't think it has changed who I am deep down. The only thing that has changed is that I'm perhaps a little more protective of myself, especially in interviews. Before, I could say what I wanted, and at worst, it would get a reaction for 15 minutes. Now, if I say something, it can fuel the gossip sites for three days."
"Actually no, it's more that I should protect myself more," the actor then clarified with a laugh. He has a point. The Heated Rivalry clickbait cycle has been intense, even by the standards of modern media and parasocial fandom. Those actors have had to deal with stalking, queerphobia, racism directed towards Hudson Williams, and the endless cycle of Discourse regarding the series, Rachel Reid's books, and the wider culture of hockey and the NHL. And that's just from within the fandom, many of whom talk as though they hate these actors. Truly, why are so many Storrie fans virulently anti-Williams, and vice versa? Why do they feel like they have to choose a side as though they're betting on a horse? And why do they feel such ownership over these people's private lives? Williams' girlfriend had to ask these people to stop intruding on her place of work. Arnaud and his co-stars were forced to call out the bigotry being spread by many who claimed to be fans.
Arnaud's clearly aware that everything he says or does is at risk of not just becoming clickbait but evolving into fodder for a futile fandom war and unnerving conspiracies. Club Chalamet, who has now moved onto following Storrie around Paris and being racist about Williams, has spent months "analysing" Arnaud's comments and posts for "proof" that he's dating Storrie. Again, that woman is pushing 60. I have no idea how any of these men are expected to navigate this impossible space without going mad.
Soon, Arnaud will make his Broadway debut in the play Three Days of Rain. That stagedoor better have the security level of Fort Knox for his sake.
