Margaret Cho Says She Turned Down Role in “Heated Rivalry” Over Fear of ICE Detention

Angelique BrenesThu, May 14, 2026 at 2:14 AM UTC

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Margaret Cho; Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie in Heated Rivalry
Credit: Mat Hayward/Getty; Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max -

Margaret Cho turned down a role in Heated Rivalry over fears of being detained at the Canadian border

The LGBTQ+ hockey drama became a hit on HBO Max and was renewed for a second season before its finale

Cho hinted she may appear in season 2 and has hosted rewatch parties for the show she now loves

Margaret Cho is opening up about a role she regrets passing on.

While appearing on the I Never Liked You podcast, the actress and comedian revealed that she turned down a part in the hit LGBTQ+ hockey drama Heated Rivalry because she feared being detained at the Canadian border due to her outspoken criticism of ICE and the current presidential administration.

“Last year, I got a pilot script for a show that I really loved, but it shot in Canada, and I was so scared because I'm so vocal about hating ICE and hating this administration,” Cho explained on the podcast. “I was like, I will get detained at the border and I will be put in ICE detention if I go.”

Cho said the decision weighed heavily on her at the time.

Margaret Cho attends the Out100 Celebration
Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty

“I was struggling over it. I had to talk to all of these people about it. And I was super upset about it, and I said no. And it was Heated Rivalry,” she said.

The actress added that she has since become a fan of the series, which was created by Jacob Tierney and is based on Rachel Reid'sGame Changers book series.

Noting she's since “watched” the show and even “hosted some rewatch parties,” Cho said, “The pilot was beautiful, and I was like, I want to do this.”

Cho also hinted that fans may still see her in the show's future. She noted she's “asked them” about appearing in season 2. “We'll see,” she teased.

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Heated Rivalry from HBO Max
Credit: Sabrina Lantos

Heated Rivalry follows Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams), a Canadian hockey superstar, and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), a Russian hockey phenom, whose intense rivalry evolves into a secret relationship over several years. The series explores fame, secrecy and emotional vulnerability as the pair navigate their careers and personal lives.

Ahead of its November 2025 premiere, the Canadian drama was acquired for distribution by HBO Max, where it later became the platform's top-rated non-animated acquired series and one of its top-five scripted debuts of 2025, according to Variety. The show was renewed for a second season in December 2025, before its first season finale aired.

“Heated Rivalry represents the very best of what Canadian creators can deliver: rich characters, compelling drama and a world audiences want to live in. The response has been extraordinary," Justin Stockman, vice president of content and programming at Bell Media, said in a statement previously reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

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Tierney added, “Watching our show become an international phenomenon has been extraordinary. We're profoundly grateful to everyone that has been on this journey with us. Being renewed for a second season so early is a true honour, and we can't wait to bring you even more of what you love.”

During a February appearance on CBS Mornings, Tierney confirmed that season 2 is expected to premiere in April 2027.

“This time last year I'd written five [episodes], and this time this year I've written zero of them,” Tierney told Variety in December 2025. “So it's going to be a little bit later, but it's still going to be soon.”

He added, “We understand that everybody's goal is to not do two years between seasons. And at the same time, I don't want to put out a rushed shitty second season just because the show is very popular. But we're very aware that our creative partners are enthusiastic and don't want to wait too long. We're getting back to work!”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”