In remarks captured by multiple outlets, Simpson told the crowd she had come to realize that drinking “wasn’t numbing my pain” and that it was “actually causing more pain,” a line that drew particular attention because of how directly it reframed her past substance use. She went on to say that she now celebrates “each and every day” that she feels alive and present in her body and that sharing the new song felt “right” in that moment.

Simpson concluded the onstage reflection with an appeal for self-compassion, encouraging audience members to “have a little grace” for themselves and assuring them that “everything is gonna be OK if you just give it all away,” echoing the song’s title and theme. In a separate report on the same performance, she was quoted as explaining that during her drinking years she became “somebody that I was afraid of, somebody I did not know and understand,” language that underscored how disorienting that period felt to her in retrospect.

Background and Context

Simpson has spoken publicly for several years about her decision to stop drinking after what she has described as a personal breaking point on Halloween 2017. In her 2020 memoir “Open Book,” she detailed how alcohol became a way to self-medicate the trauma of childhood sexual abuse and the pressures of early fame, before ultimately contributing to a version of herself she no longer recognized.

In past interviews, Simpson has described waking up after that 2017 Halloween party and realizing that alcohol had left her “an unrecognizable version of myself,” prompting her to commit to sobriety. She later wrote that to reclaim her “light” and move forward without regret, she needed to stop drinking because it kept her “mind and heart circling in the same direction,” leaving her exhausted and unable to process her pain in a way that led to growth.

Her memoir and subsequent interviews have addressed the stigma surrounding labels like “alcoholism” and “alcoholic,” with Simpson stressing that the deeper work involved learning to accept failure, pain, and self-sabotage rather than focusing solely on the substance. She has said that “the drinking wasn’t the issue” so much as the fact that she “didn’t love” herself or respect her own power, framing her recovery as part of a broader journey toward self-worth.

Marking milestones and challenging stigma

As of late 2025, Simpson publicly marked eight years of sobriety in an Instagram post that was subsequently reported by several entertainment and news outlets, reflecting on the ways alcohol had once “blocked” her dreams and silenced her intuition. She wrote that choosing sobriety allowed her to live more fully “in the pursuit of God’s purpose” for her life and that she now felt “clear” and “driven by faith,” emphasizing surrender rather than struggle as the source of her strength.

In those reflections, Simpson described how alcohol once chased her “circulating fears of complacency” and left her overthinking her creative decisions, particularly in recording sessions in Los Angeles around 2016 and 2017. She said that after she stopped drinking, those fears diminished and it became easier to access her authentic artistic voice, even as she stepped away from the pursuit of conventional pop “hits.”

Simpson has also used social media to push back on speculation about her sobriety, responding in 2024 to an Instagram comment that urged her to “STOP DRINKING” by stating that she had not “wanted or touched alcohol since October 2017” and calling that choice “the best decision” for herself and her family. In that reply, which was widely shared, she thanked the commenter for their concern but said they had her “very misunderstood,” and she emphasized that she could still feel hurt by judgmental remarks even after years of working to block out “destructive noise.”

“Drinking was causing more pain”

The June 2 performance comments about drinking “causing more pain” echoed ideas Simpson has expressed in earlier essays and interviews, but this time she linked them directly to new music that explicitly addresses her recovery. She introduced “Give It All Away” as a song about learning to release the burdens and self-sabotaging patterns that once kept her stuck, telling the Yaamava’ audience that “it felt right” to share it after describing her ongoing work in therapy and self-reflection.

Onstage, she reflected that she had not understood “all of the traumas” she was holding onto until she began looking inward, saying that the process of confronting those experiences was “really painful” but necessary. She also linked her sobriety to her role as a parent of three children, explaining that, during her drinking years, she did not feel like a good role model and that this realization was part of what motivated her to step away from alcohol.

Her message to the crowd emphasized progress rather than perfection, as she described herself as continuing to learn and encouraged others to extend that same patience to themselves. By framing sobriety as an everyday choice rather than a completed task, Simpson aligned her story with many recovery narratives that stress ongoing commitment, including for LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized communities who may face additional stressors around stigma, identity, and visibility.

Broader resonance of her story

Simpson’s public reflections have often intersected with broader conversations about mental health, trauma, and substance use, particularly among women navigating public scrutiny of their bodies, relationships, and parenting. By speaking openly about childhood sexual abuse, self-medication, and the pressure to appear “fine” in public, she has contributed to a growing body of celebrity testimony that challenges the idea that success and suffering are mutually exclusive.

Her comments have also been reported alongside reminders that many people in recovery, including LGBTQ+ people, face judgment and speculation about their sobriety, sometimes from strangers online. In response, Simpson has stressed compassion even for those who post hurtful remarks, saying she feels “compassion for the opinionated hate” and emphasizing that “nobody is alone” in wanting to feel or do better, a sentiment that aligns with inclusive, person-first approaches to recovery and mental health.

As she continues to perform and develop new projects, Simpson has framed her sobriety as integral to her creative work and personal life rather than as a separate chapter. The recent performance in California, with its frank admission that “drinking wasn’t numbing my pain, it was causing more,” suggests that her upcoming music may continue to draw on that lived experience in ways that resonate with audiences navigating their own paths toward healing, whether around addiction, trauma, or the challenges of living openly as themselves.

“Those were Froot Loops,” Spielberg says, smiling. “My favorite.”

Spielberg’s latest, like some of his earliest and most beloved films, again concerns what might fall from above. “Disclosure Day,” which Universal Pictures releases June 11, returns Hollywood’s preeminent big-screen craftsman to one of his most abiding questions: Are we alone?

Coming nearly half a century after “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Disclosure Day” is a grand bookend for one of the most cosmically-minded moviemakers of our time, whose dreams of extraterrestrial life have shaped all of ours. It’s a distant answer to the final notes of “Close Encounters.” But while Spielberg grants his 1977 film was “speculative,” “Disclosure Day,” he insists, is the real deal.

“It’s my first film that will be considered science fiction that I do not consider to be science fiction,” Spielberg said in a recent interview. “It’s much more reflective of the world as it is evolving and discoveries that are being made as we speak.”

Spielberg, at 79, is trying to revive and reconsider the alien wonder that’s long lingered in his mind, from “E.T.” to “War of the Worlds.” “Disclosure Day,” Spielberg’s first summer movie in a decade, is already being hailed as one of his best in years. But this time, Spielberg is testing whether he can conjure some of his trademark movie magic less with imagination than with conviction.

“I’ve been a believer since I made ‘Close Encounters’ 50 years ago,” Spielberg says. “But I would always say: Until I’ve seen a UAP or a UFO with my own eyes, I’m not going to categorically state that life from out there has come here.

“But I’ve changed that,” he adds. “I’m now willing to change my mind because of the circumstantial evidence which is overwhelming.”

Aliens again, but different

“Disclosure Day” stars Josh O’Connor as a cybersecurity whistleblower with government evidence, long suppressed, chronicling a history of alien encounters. Guiding him in his escape from a corporate executive (Colin Firth) trying to keep it all under wraps is the disclosure movement’s leader (Colman Domingo). Meanwhile, a meteorologist named Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt) begins having a mysterious epiphany.

When he first began thinking about the movie, Spielberg called up the screenwriter David Koepp, a longtime collaborator who wrote “Jurassic Park” and “War of the Worlds.”

“I said, ‘Sure, what’s it about?’” recalls Koepp. “And he said, ‘Oh, you know, aliens again. But different this time.’”

Spielberg was coming off an unusually long break by his breakneck standards. His 2022 film “The Fabelmans” pulled from his own childhood, dramatizing his parents’ painful divorce and his own origins as a filmmaker. Spielberg’s first gut-wrenchingly autobiographical movie left him unsure of what was next.

“It was the hardest question I ever had to ask myself because there was such completion in resolving so many personal issues that I had never aired in public before ‘The Fabelmans,’” Spielberg says.

“I didn’t care whether people thought ‘The Fabelmans’ was just a tale, a yarn, or if they cared that it was all true. I didn’t care about that. It was something I did for myself. I always used to say it was $40 million of therapy that I didn’t have to pay for. Universal did,” he says, laughing.

But Spielberg, having long followed reports of alleged alien encounters, was inspired by the 2023 House Subcommittee on National Security hearing on UAPs: Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. Among the witnesses was whistleblower and former Air Force intelligence officer David Grusch, who testified that the government concealed a program investigating UAPs.

The Pentagon then denied it. Yet in April, President Donald Trump said the Pentagon is preparing to release some “very interesting” UFO files.

Those 2023 testimonies and others so fueled Spielberg that he produced a 50-page treatment on what would become “Disclosure Day." During the writing process with Koepp, he texted him more notes, he says, “than I’ve ever sent to anyone in my life.”

“There was a period in there where I believe he re-read the script every single day for a year,” Koepp says. “We’d be in different time zones and I would wake up to 30 or 35 texts from his most current reading of the script. When the leader of the project has that level of commitment, it tends to bring along everyone. You up your game.”

Extraterrestrial empathy

Spielberg has long considered his filmography split in two, between the filmmaker who made “Jaws” and “E.T.” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and the one who, after 1985’s “The Color Purple,” was increasingly drawn to darker and more serious material with films like “Schindler’s List,” “Saving Private Ryan” and “Munich.”

“Disclosure Day” is a kind of bridge between both modes of Spielberg — a thrilling chase movie filled with wonderment that’s nevertheless grounded in reality and recent history. And its most ardent message is quite earthbound. Blunt’s character’s clarity comes from looking people in the eye. As much as it’s about aliens, “Disclosure Day” is about empathy.

“I think every movie should have a great emphasis on empathy because empathy sometimes feels like it’s in short supply,” Spielberg says. “We have it, sometimes we can’t use it. Sometimes it’s not allowed to be used if you want to stay aligned with your friends and your belief systems. But I think empathy is there for all of us.”

“Disclosure Day” opens in a much different movie world than Spielberg's earlier alien adventures. It's one of few big, original studio movies this summer — a moviegoing season that the “Jaws” filmmaker pioneered. But neither franchise domination, AI nor streaming make Spielberg fret for the future of movies.

“The audience gives me faith in the movies," says Spielberg. "Even though the numbers are still not pre-COVID level numbers for any films being released now, it’s more robust than it has been for many years. The audience gives me belief that people still want to congregate in a dark space in the company of strangers to share an experience of a film made by storytellers. And that gives me faith to continue making films.”

Spielberg will turn 80 this December. Around the same age, Martin Scorsese began to frankly ponder how many movies he had left. Spielberg doesn’t think the same way.

“I never think about how many more I have,” he says. “I’m just hopeful that I will be inspired when something comes along, as I was with ‘Disclosure Day,’ as I was with ‘Fabelmans,’ as I was with ‘West Side Story.’”

More inspiration is already on the way. Spielberg hopes that his next movie will be a Western. Despite his deep fondness for the genre and an indelible encounter with John Ford, it’s one genre that’s eluded him.

“I always feel like parts of the ‘Raiders’ adventure movies are like Westerns,” he says. “Whenever Harrison (Ford) was on a horse, it made me wistful for wanting to direct a full Western, a real Western.”

Margaret Fairchild in “Disclosure Day” has some echoes with another Spielberg protagonist: Richard Dreyfuss’ Roy Neary in “Close Encounters.” Both are compelled by a strange force beyond their control. It’s a character type that Spielberg, a compulsive movie maker, grants he connects with. “Disclosure Day” is his 35th feature film.

“I identify with characters who aren’t afraid of mysterious things happening to them,” Spielberg says, “and who are fighting for their survival by trying to discover what they don’t know.”

Brown says that while the show projected hope and transformation on screen, he often felt trapped, depressed and ashamed off camera, especially as someone whose role was to coach others on mental health and personal growth. He recalls feeling a deep disconnect between the supportive mentor viewers saw and the isolation he says he experienced in his professional life, telling People, “It felt shameful because I was teaching people that they could be better, but in my own life I was trapped.”

‘I wasn’t coping right’: relapse after 12 years sober

Brown explains that his relapse came after more than a decade without drugs or alcohol, a period of sobriety he traces back to 2006, when he learned he was a father and decided to stop using substances. According to the new accounts, he relapsed while filming Queer Eye’s third season in 2018, describing how what started as workplace stress relief escalated into a broader return to substance use.

He says the pattern often began innocuously: “It was: ‘I’m stressed from work, meet me at a bar for a drink,’” Brown recalls in the People interview, adding that “a drink would lead to weed, cocaine, pills.” He reflects that he “wasn’t coping right” and was pretending to function while feeling “so broken,” emphasizing that for him, the core struggle was not only the substances but the “feelings underneath” that he had not faced.

Brown also offers specific examples of his substance use during that period, saying that after a couple of beers he could “smoke weed…all night and not be able to function,” and that he might use cocaine “to keep the party going and make me feel connected when it did not.” He frames these experiences as part of a larger struggle with avoidance and emotional pain, underscoring that what he now teaches others is that “it’s not the substance you’re struggling with, it’s the feelings underneath that you haven’t focused on.”

Behind-the-scenes tension and family impact

Brown’s disclosure about relapse is intertwined with his decision to publicly address a reported breakdown in relationships with some of his Queer Eye colleagues and with production staff. He alleges that over time, certain behavior by cast members and executives was excused rather than challenged, saying, “Everyone would just say, ‘Well, that’s just that person,’ instead of saying, ‘This behavior does not fly in a professional environment,’” and that this “impacted me negatively, consistently.”

He also recounts clashes with members of the production team, claiming that one person told him, “You are not a star. I will get rid of you tomorrow,” a comment he says came amid ongoing conflict about how concerns were handled behind the scenes. The atmosphere, he says, contributed to his depression and compounded the shame he felt about not living up to the hopeful message he promoted to participants on the show.

One turning point, Brown says, came when his mother visited the set and allegedly overheard several of his co‑stars speaking negatively about him. He recalls seeing “the tears” in her eyes as she repeated, “I thought they were your friends,” an experience he describes as clarifying his need to stop staying silent about how often he felt like an outsider within the group.

Brown emphasizes that he also recognizes his own role in the fallout, telling People that “there were times I was hurt and would lash back out,” and that doing more intensive personal work over the last year and a half has helped him examine those reactions. He says that creating distance from some promotional duties—including his decision not to join his Queer Eye colleagues for a CBS Mornings appearance earlier this year—has been part of “protecting” his mental health and peace.

Recovery, accountability and a new chapter

Brown says he has now been sober again for about a year and a half, attributing the renewed commitment in part to a frightening incident in which a guest had a negative reaction to a substance at his home. He recounts that “since that day, I’ve not had a single drink, cocktail—nothing,” describing his current sobriety as supported by a 12‑step program and regular recovery meetings.

He links his renewed sobriety to a broader sense of purpose rooted in family, noting that he first got sober in 2006 after discovering he had a son, Jason, and that becoming a parent “healed” something in him and clarified his responsibilities. Brown also says his commitment has deepened as he prepares to become a grandfather, sharing that learning Jason is expecting a child made him feel that his sobriety is “even more important” for the next generation.

In the People interview, Brown frames the last year and a half as a period of intensive personal work, saying that this “new chapter feels safe and it feels triumphant because it has been a year‑and‑a‑half of real work on myself.” He says that work has included making amends, setting firmer boundaries, and speaking more openly about experiences—including his relapse—that he previously kept private out of fear and shame.

Brown has shared aspects of his mental health journey before, previously disclosing a suicide attempt in 2006 and describing how support from loved ones and access to care helped him survive. His latest remarks, however, add new detail about the pressures of reality television production and the way those pressures intersected with his recovery, especially as a highly visible gay Black man whose on‑screen persona centers emotional vulnerability and self‑acceptance.

Wider conversations on sobriety and LGBTQ+ mental health

Brown’s account arrives amid broader conversations about mental health, addiction and labor conditions in the entertainment industry, particularly for LGBTQ+ people and people of color who may face overlapping pressures on and off camera. Advocacy organizations and clinicians have long noted higher reported rates of substance use disorders and mood disorders among LGBTQ+ communities compared with the general population, often linked to stigma, discrimination and chronic stress, though Brown’s interview does not cite specific statistics.

By tying his relapse to “not facing my demons” and to unaddressed workplace dynamics, Brown implicitly underscores themes that resonate across recovery communities: the importance of safe working conditions, the need for supportive environments, and the reality that sobriety is often an ongoing, non‑linear process. He also reiterates a message aligned with many harm‑reduction and recovery perspectives: that addressing underlying pain, trauma and mental health concerns is central to sustainable recovery from substance use.

Brown says he hopes his experience will encourage others to seek help and explore life without drugs or alcohol, describing sobriety as not only possible but “so fun” and fulfilling. For LGBTQ+ viewers and others who have followed his story, his willingness to speak about relapse as part of a longer recovery journey may offer a reminder that setbacks do not erase progress, and that support, treatment options and community remain available.

In a recent appearance on Amy Poehler’s podcast Good Hang, Holland shared that SNL has reached out to him “a few times” over the years, but he has declined each invitation. While stressing that he loves the show and the idea of having fun on live television, he said the practical realities of SNL’s last‑minute rewrites and reliance on handwritten cue cards make the prospect “terrifying” for him.

“I’m Heavily Dyslexic” — Holland’s Explanation

Speaking with Poehler, herself a former SNL cast member and frequent host, Holland stated plainly, “I’m heavily dyslexic,” framing the condition as one of the main reasons he has “never done SNL.” He said he was eager to talk about dyslexia on the podcast, noting that it affects how he handles specific work situations rather than his overall ability to read.

Holland emphasized that he can read “fine” but that reading aloud creates a particular challenge. He described experiencing a “mental block” when asked to read in front of others, saying that in those moments, he can “freeze,” a reaction that is amplified under the pressure of live television.

Fear of Cue Cards and Live Changes

Central to Holland’s reluctance is SNL’s traditional use of cue cards, which are often updated with changes shortly before or even during broadcast. On Good Hang, Poehler immediately connected his comment about dyslexia to the show’s paper cue cards, exclaiming “Because of the cue cards?!” as he confirmed that concern.

Holland said he is “just so petrified at the concept of trying to read something and they change,” explaining that the unpredictability of last‑minute edits is particularly stressful when combined with reading aloud on live television. He reiterated that SNL’s format, which leans heavily on performers reading directly from cue cards as scripts are revised, makes the prospect of hosting much more daunting than a fully pre‑scripted project.

“Worst Day at Work Is the Read-Through”

Beyond SNL, Holland said that table reads are consistently the most challenging part of his work as an actor. He described read‑through days as his “worst day at work,” explaining that speaking lines aloud from the page in front of colleagues is where his dyslexia‑related difficulties tend to surface most sharply.

To manage this, Holland said he highlights his dialogue in advance and learns his lines ahead of time so that, in read‑throughs, he is “more skimming it than I am reading it.” That strategy, he suggested, is harder to apply in SNL’s live format, where changes may appear on cards seconds before lines have to be delivered.

Grateful for Invitations, Afraid of Live Pressure

Holland emphasized that he feels “really lucky” SNL has contacted him about hosting on multiple occasions. He confirmed that the show has reached out “a few times,” and that his refusals are not about disliking the series or resisting comedy, but about the fear of freezing on live television.

Describing his internal conflict, Holland said he loves the idea of “having fun and making a fool of yourself in such a fun, creative way” on SNL, but called the cue‑card element “the thing” he cannot get past. He characterized his overall feeling as being “just really scared” of the live reading requirement, even as he continues to perform in large‑scale films and stage productions.

Amy Poehler’s Perspective and SNL’s History

Poehler, who spent years as a cast member on SNL and has returned as a host, responded to Holland with empathy and humor. Reports on their conversation highlight that she acknowledged the difficulty of reading the show’s fast‑changing cue cards, while also conveying reassurance drawn from her own experience.

Coverage of the podcast notes that Poehler suggested other performers with dyslexia have hosted SNL, implying that the show has a history of working with people who have similar access needs. Though specific names were not widely reported in these write‑ups, her reaction underscored that Holland’s hesitation exists within a broader context of performers navigating live television with diverse learning profiles.

Dyslexia, Visibility, and Live TV

Holland’s comments add a high‑profile voice to ongoing conversations about how the entertainment industry can better support people with dyslexia and other learning differences, particularly in high‑pressure live environments. While his main focus in the interview was personal, his remarks implicitly highlight how production formats — such as cue‑card‑driven live broadcasts — can either increase or reduce barriers for performers with dyslexia.

Entertainment outlets covering the story have framed Holland’s decision as a careful balance between professional opportunity and personal well‑being, rather than a rejection of comedy or live performance altogether. Articles note that he continues to take on demanding roles, including a planned appearance in Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey, illustrating that his dyslexia shapes — but does not limit — the kinds of projects he chooses.

What Holland’s Revelation Means for Fans and Future Invitations

For fans who have wondered why a Marvel lead with a long list of talk‑show appearances has never fronted SNL, Holland’s explanation offers direct clarity. The actor’s description of feeling “petrified” by the idea of reading rapidly changing cue cards live contrasts with his otherwise confident public persona, underlining that on‑camera ease can coexist with specific access needs.

As of early June 2026, reports do not indicate any concrete plan for Holland to overcome these concerns and host SNL in the near future. Instead, his recent comments position him as a prominent figure openly discussing dyslexia in mainstream entertainment, while leaving open the possibility that different production approaches or personal comfort levels could someday change his calculation.

In a conversation with co‑star Carl Radke on the “More Life” podcast, Dillard said that the relationship strain intensified as work dried up and he paused modeling to focus on the Bravo series, leaving him under severe financial pressure. He explained that he began “taking out” what he was going through on Levitan without realizing it at the time, which he now views as part of the larger mental health crisis that culminated in self‑harm and hospitalization.

Hospitalization, Diagnosis, and Recovery

Dillard first disclosed the extent of his mental health struggles publicly during part one of the “Summer House” Season 10 reunion, which aired May 26, where he said he was hospitalized for a week after engaging in self‑harm in the fall. During the reunion, he became emotional as he told host Andy Cohen that co‑stars Ciara Miller and Mia Calabrese visited him at the hospital “almost every day,” describing them as key supports through what he called “some heavy stuff mentally.”

While in the hospital, Dillard was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, a condition he said finally helped explain the intensity of his emotions and relationship patterns. He recounted that after leaving the hospital he spent “a few months” in a recovery program, using the time to focus on therapy and medication, and later told outlets that he now feels “better” and more able to face challenges instead of “running away” from them.

‘She Had To’: How the Breakup Happened

During the “More Life” discussion, Dillard said that the breakup with Levitan took place after his hospital stay, when he transitioned into recovery and began confronting the full weight of his mental health and financial challenges. He recalled that the split came at a time when he “hit rock bottom” and described himself as “in the worst place ever,” adding that Levitan ended the relationship “because she had to” given how much he was struggling.

Dillard also said that close friend and co‑star Mia Calabrese encouraged Levitan to take that step, believing a break would be healthier for both people while he pursued treatment. He framed the breakup not as a lack of care but as a boundary that allowed him to enter recovery more fully, telling Radke that he “needed the time” away from the relationship to work on himself in therapy and stabilize on medication.

In a separate interview cited by entertainment outlets, Dillard explained that before filming the show there was “nothing really going on” professionally, and that he paused modeling work over the summer to commit to the series, which compounded financial stress. He told Radke that the combination of slowed work, mounting bills, and unresolved mental health conditions left him in what he called a “terrible place” that he did not fully recognize at the time, and that he unintentionally displaced some of that distress into conflict with Levitan.

Relationship Status Remains Unclear

Public reporting indicates that Dillard and Levitan have at different times confirmed they were still together, with a Bravo update in April 2026 saying the couple remained “very much together” and had shared affectionate glimpses of their relationship on social media in the preceding months. Coverage noted that as of March the pair had reaffirmed their relationship status, amid the airing of “Summer House” Season 10, which introduced Dillard to viewers as a new cast member navigating both romance and rising public visibility.

However, by late May, outlets including Cosmopolitan and fan‑focused sites reported that the current status of the relationship was uncertain, pointing to signs such as Dillard and Levitan briefly unfollowing each other on Instagram and reducing public references to one another. Those reports also note that Levitan recently reposted an interview about Dillard’s mental health journey on her Instagram Story, signaling ongoing public support for his recovery even as fans continue to speculate about whether they are currently a couple.

Dillard has not provided a detailed, on‑the‑record update on the present state of the relationship beyond describing the earlier break and the reasons he believes the pause was necessary. As a result, major outlets continue to describe the couple’s current status as “unclear,” framing the story primarily around his mental health disclosures and the impact of his diagnosis rather than any confirmed breakup or reconciliation.

Fans and Cast Respond to His Mental Health Journey

Dillard’s openness at the reunion prompted a wave of support from viewers, with entertainment outlets documenting comments from fans who praised him for speaking candidly about self‑harm, hospitalization, and living with BPD on a mainstream reality platform. Coverage describes social media posts thanking him for helping to reduce stigma and for acknowledging the support of friends, including fellow cast members Ciara Miller and Mia Calabrese, who he has called “sisters for life.”

In follow‑up interviews, Dillard has said that talking about his diagnosis publicly was “the hardest thing” he has experienced but that he believes it is important to face his history instead of avoiding it. He has also shared that he is now in therapy, on medication, and writing poetry as part of his recovery process, presenting a narrative that centers ongoing care and self‑understanding rather than a single turning point.

A Reality TV Storyline Grounded in Mental Health

Dillard’s account of his breakup and diagnosis adds to a growing number of reality television narratives that foreground mental health, including anxiety, depression, and complex personality‑related conditions. For viewers, his story offers a look at how intensive treatment, community support, and relationship boundaries can intersect when someone is navigating BPD and serious financial stress in a high‑profile environment.

Reporting to date emphasizes that Dillard continues to frame the breakup with Levitan as part of a broader journey toward stability, rather than as a simple end to a relationship storyline. He has consistently highlighted the care shown by his friends and by Levitan herself, suggesting that their decision to step back from the relationship during his “terrible” period was rooted in concern for the well‑being of both people.

The A24‑distributed psychological horror film opened in U.S. theaters on May 29, 2026, after a premiere at the Aero Theatre in Los Angeles earlier that month, and swiftly outperformed pre‑release forecasts.

Industry tracking had initially projected Backrooms to debut around $20 million domestically, with later updates nudging estimates to the $40–50 million range as buzz intensified.

Instead, the film opened to approximately $81.5 million in North America and about $118 million worldwide in its first weekend, on a reported production budget of about $10 million.

As of June 2, 2026, Backrooms has grossed roughly $89.1 million in the United States and Canada and $37.1 million in other territories, for an estimated global total of $126.2 million.

The performance has made Backrooms the biggest opening in A24’s history, more than tripling the studio’s previous benchmark set by Civil War and establishing it as one of the year’s most profitable horror releases.

A 20‑Year‑Old Director Makes History

Parsons, known online for his Backrooms YouTube series under the name Kane Pixels, transitioned from internet creator to feature filmmaker with the A24 adaptation of his viral liminal‑space horror concept.

At just 20 years old, he has become the youngest filmmaker to helm a film that reached number one at the American box office, according to A24’s confirmation to ABC News and corroborating box office data.

Parsons’ path to mainstream success began with self‑taught filmmaking and a series of eerie, found‑footage‑style shorts exploring the Backrooms mythology on YouTube, which cultivated a dedicated online community across age groups and identities, including many LGBTQ+ horror fans.

In media interviews, Parsons has spoken about reaching beyond that original internet audience while still honoring the community that helped popularize his work, signalling a desire to keep existing viewers engaged as the story expands.

Inside the Film’s Story and Appeal

Backrooms centers on Clark, a small‑town furniture store owner played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, whose life unravels after he discovers a glowing doorway in his basement that leads to a labyrinthine extra‑dimensional space.

The movie follows Clark’s descent into the uncanny maze and the subsequent investigation by his therapist Mary, portrayed by Renate Reinsve, who is drawn through the same portal into the surreal environment.

The Backrooms dimension itself is depicted as an endless stretch of yellow‑tinted, fluorescent‑lit rooms and corridors, with sporadic objects and threatening entities that challenge the characters’ grasp on reality.

Reviewers have highlighted the film’s focus on atmosphere, psychological dread, and liminal unease rather than traditional jump scares, a style that has resonated with a broad audience, including many younger viewers who discovered the concept online.

For horror audiences that include LGBTQ+ people who often relate strongly to narratives about displacement and otherworldly spaces, this emphasis on alienation and identity in liminal zones has added thematic depth to the film’s commercial appeal.

Parsons Confirms He’s “Not Done” With Backrooms

Even as Backrooms continues to roll out in additional markets, Parsons has been explicit that the theatrical feature is only one chapter of a larger, ongoing narrative.

Speaking to Variety in an interview referenced by multiple outlets, Parsons said he has “a contract” and “a hold” on his side, adding that he is “definitely not done with Backrooms” and that there are “very specific things” in active development that he is eager to discuss when allowed.

In comments quoted by genre outlets, Parsons framed the first film as “a bit of a foot in the door” toward the “true root of the narrative” that has been cultivated in his online work over several years.

He has stated that sequels have been part of his intention since 2022, describing Backrooms as “the first part of a larger story” and indicating that future installments will explore different layers of the fictional space’s topology and lore.

According to coverage summarizing his recent interviews, Parsons remains committed to continuing the original YouTube series alongside the films, presenting an interconnected franchise that spans platforms and formats.

Sequel Status: Contracted but Unannounced

While A24 has not made a formal public announcement of Backrooms 2 as of early June 2026, multiple outlets report that Parsons is already under contract with the studio to develop a sequel.

Coverage of the director’s comments describes the sequel as in development and officially contracted, with reporting noting that the arrangement was in place by the time the first film’s record‑breaking opening numbers were confirmed.

Parsons has also indicated that he is seeking a screenwriting collaborator for the follow‑up, with early June reports stating that he is actively looking for a partner on the sequel’s script.

Industry analysis suggests that Backrooms’ relatively modest budget and outsized returns make an ongoing franchise financially attractive for A24, with the first film’s global opening weekend estimates widely described as a “record‑breaking” event for the studio.

One feature article characterizes Backrooms as A24’s “big-screen adaptation” of a viral internet phenomenon that has now become the studio’s “biggest opener ever,” positioning it as a likely cornerstone of the company’s horror slate in the coming years.

How the Sequel Might Evolve the Story

Though specific plot details for a sequel remain under wraps, reporting on Parsons’ interviews indicates that he wants to shift away from simply repeating survival‑horror beats in endless yellow rooms.

Instead, he has reportedly outlined a direction that leans further into science‑fiction and existential dread, broadening the perspective beyond a single protagonist trapped in the maze.

Articles summarizing his comments suggest Parsons hopes to explore how government and private entities respond to the discovery of the Backrooms dimension, expanding the focus from individual terror to systemic reactions.

For audiences that include transgender people, queer people, and others historically underrepresented or stereotyped in horror, a shift toward complex world‑building and institutional scrutiny may open space for more layered character dynamics across identities.

Parsons has also been quoted as envisioning a potential three‑to‑five‑film saga that would travel through different “layers” of the Backrooms and introduce new environments and entities, although long‑term plans remain dependent on ongoing performance and studio decisions.

A Cross‑Platform, Ongoing Universe

Backrooms originates from online culture, and Parsons has repeatedly emphasized that the cinematic features will not replace the original web series but instead coexist with it.

Coverage of his remarks notes that he intends to keep expanding the YouTube storyline while the films explore different angles on the same central mystery, effectively turning Backrooms into a multi‑platform universe.

Earlier genre reports, published before the film’s release, had already documented Parsons responding to fan questions by hinting at both a sequel and a possible limited series to “wrap up” parts of the Backrooms narrative, suggesting that the franchise blueprint predates the current box office surge.

As Backrooms continues its theatrical run, including delayed openings in some international territories such as India, this cross‑platform approach may help maintain momentum and foster inclusive fan communities that see their own experiences reflected, at least metaphorically, in stories of people navigating unsettling, in‑between spaces.

While concrete release dates and casting details for future installments remain unannounced, current reporting paints a consistent picture: Parsons holds a contract to continue the series, has actively begun development on a sequel, and views the existing film as the starting point rather than the conclusion of the Backrooms story.

The Impact Awards, produced with iHeartMedia and Procter & Gamble , will debut June 1 as a podcast series and audio special, positioning queer storytelling and visibility at the center of that response. John and his husband David Furnish frame the project as both a celebration of trailblazers and a call to resist efforts to dismantle the health, cultural, and advocacy systems LGBTQ+ communities built in the shadow of the AIDS crisis.

A new platform for Pride season

In mid-May, iHeartMedia and P&G announced the inaugural Elton John Impact Awards, describing it as a first-of-its-kind podcast awards ceremony honoring “trailblazing LGBTQ+ community members and prominent allies.” Hosted by actor and musician Billy Porter alongside radio personality Elvis Duran, the series will stream on the iHeartRadio app and across all major podcast platforms, while also airing as an audio special on iHeartRadio PRIDE stations on June 1, aligning the launch with the start of Pride Month.

The awards aim to “drive visibility and funding” for organizations that support LGBTQ+ communities, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation, CenterLink, GLAAD, the National Black Justice Coalition, Outright International, SAGE, and The Trevor Project. These groups collectively address issues from LGBTQ+ elder care and mental health for young people to international human-rights advocacy and access to preventative health services, situating the podcast as more than a celebrity showcase.

Honoring a new generation of icons

The first cohort of honorees reflects a cross-section of LGBTQ+ identities and allies whose work spans entertainment, sports, and grassroots philanthropy. Honorees include actor Jonathan Bailey, transgender advocate and actor Laverne Cox, musician Melissa Etheridge, tennis legend Billie Jean King, country performer Orville Peck, and pop artist Chappell Roan, each recognized for weaving LGBTQ+ advocacy into their public roles.

Bailey is praised for launching The Shameless Fund to support LGBTQ+ charities, while Cox is cited for elevating transgender visibility in mainstream media and maintaining a strong voice for equality and inclusion. Etheridge’s decades of personal storytelling and advocacy, King’s lifelong fight for gender and LGBTQ+ equality in and beyond sports, Peck’s queer-centered reimagining of country aesthetics, and Roan’s founding of The Midwest Princess Project to support transgender youth round out a roster the organizers explicitly describe as “legendary” and “iconic.”

In the Out interview, Furnish notes that these honorees “used their platform at a moment when it would have been easier not to,” emphasizing that the Impact Awards prioritize sustained public authenticity over mere celebrity. He points to the effect of such visibility on young LGBTQ+ people navigating their identities, arguing that seeing people live “their truth publicly and consistently” can be life-changing.

“The hostility is real and it is growing”

John is explicit about why this project is debuting now. In the Out interview, he describes the current climate by saying, “The hostility is real and it is growing,” warning that LGBTQ+ rights are being rolled back and funding is being cut while vulnerable communities become even more exposed.

“This is not a moment for silence or looking away,” John says, framing the Impact Awards as “one way of saying clearly – we are here, we are proud, and we are not going away.” He adds that art and visibility “have always been part of how this community survives,” linking queer creativity not only to cultural impact but to survival in the face of legislative attacks and public scapegoating.

Furnish echoes that sense of urgency, saying the couple is “focused on protecting what the LGBTQ+ community built, because most people don't know they built it,” with special emphasis on the role gay men played in transforming modern medicine during the AIDS crisis. He explains that activists pushed for faster access to life-saving drugs, forced their way into scientific conversations, and created community-based care models that are now standard practice, warning that this legacy is “under threat” from funding cuts, criminalization, and political hostility.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation and a threatened legacy

John’s and Furnish’s comments come against the backdrop of more than three decades of work by the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which is both a beneficiary and a partner of the Impact Awards. Founded in 1992, the foundation describes its mission as ending the AIDS epidemic, with a focus on overcoming stigma, discrimination, and neglect that block access to testing, prevention, and treatment.

According to iHeartMedia’s background notes on the awards, since 2020 the foundation has made more than 55 grants and invested over $23 million in programs across 47 countries, supporting a range of local experts and organizations on four continents. Furnish calls the Impact Awards a way to spotlight “the vital work of organizations protecting LGBTQ+ communities and advancing health equity around the world,” stating that such investment has “never been more urgent” as LGBTQ+ rights and health equity are challenged globally.

In the Out conversation, Furnish underscores that ending AIDS “is still possible” because “the science has never been better,” but cautions that “the systems and communities built to deliver it have to survive first.” He characterizes the foundation’s work as a fight to keep those community-built systems alive amid political pressure, aligning the awards with broader efforts to defend both public health infrastructure and LGBTQ+ dignity.

Storytelling, joy, and resistance

For John, storytelling is the connective tissue between his career, the Impact Awards, and the current wave of hostility. In the press announcement, he is quoted as saying he has “always believed in the power of storytelling to connect us and challenge us,” describing the new series as a way to bring together people who have shaped LGBTQ+ culture and “fought for dignity at a time when the world too often looked away.”

John calls the honorees’ stories “deeply humbling” and insists that “this is history that cannot be forgotten and these are voices that must be heard,” suggesting that archiving and amplifying queer narratives is itself part of resisting political erasure. The audio format, which includes candid conversations between John, Furnish, and each honoree, aims to give listeners what organizers describe as “behind the scenes” access to the challenges and defining moments that shaped each person’s life.

In his Out interview, John directs a specific message to young LGBTQ+ artists: “Be yourself. That is the best advice I can give to any young person. Do not be afraid of who you are. Celebrate it, be courageous, and step out into the world as only you can. We need you.” The emphasis on courage, celebration, and “queer joy” positions authenticity as a form of resistance, echoing Furnish’s assertion that “living openly and unapologetically is a form of resistance in itself.”

Legacy beyond the stage

Although John is widely honored for his decades-long musical career, the interview makes clear that he sees his most important legacy in different terms. Asked how he hopes people will celebrate his life, he answers that if his children are happy and know he “gave everything” to support and love them, “that is enough,” describing fatherhood and building a family with Furnish as what will “always matter most.”

At the same time, John acknowledges the “great privilege” of having been honored for his music and says he tries to pass a sense of opportunity to “rising artists who will become the legends of tomorrow,” reinforcing the intergenerational dimension of the Impact Awards. In framing the awards as both an archive and a baton-pass, John and Furnish position legacy not as a static monument but as something actively used to shore up communities under pressure.

A coordinated push from corporate partners

Corporate partners are also foregrounding the awards’ political context, even as they focus on storytelling and celebration. Gayle Troberman of iHeartMedia says the company is “honored to partner with Elton John and P&G” to share the honorees’ stories, and argues that doing so helps “showcase what’s possible when we use our voice to support the organizations on the ground delivering critical support to those in need.”

Brent Miller of P&G states that the company is “proud to celebrate these cultural icons and community organizations” that inspire and support people globally, saying their efforts help “create a world where equality and inclusion are achievable for all.” He adds that honorees use their gifts “in the arts, athletics or community impact” to inspire others with “hope, action and impact,” suggesting a deliberate alignment between corporate messaging and the awards’ emphasis on resilience amid hostility.

Fighting hostility with visibility

Taken together, John’s comments and the structure of the Impact Awards articulate a strategy for facing what he calls a growing swell of political hostility: elevating queer and allied voices, shoring up frontline organizations, and insisting on joy and visibility even under threat. Furnish tells Out that the honorees prove “visibility changes things,” presenting their lives as evidence that open, unapologetic living can shift culture, policy, and individual possibility.

For queer people and allies listening in, the message is straightforward but urgent: this is not the time to retreat. In John’s words, “We are not giving up, and I hope you won’t either,” a reminder that his legacy—as he defines it—rests not only on past hits or past activism, but on whether communities today continue to stand up to hostility and defend what previous generations built.

A viral onstage “confessional”

Earlier in May, Delevingne drew global attention when she joined Spanish singer Rosalía onstage during a London stop of Rosalía’s tour and participated in a theatrical “confessional” segment at The O2 arena. In the bit, Rosalía played a priest while Delevingne, speaking from behind a confessional screen, told the crowd, “If you didn’t know already, I’m a lesbian, and my weakness used to be straight women,” a line that quickly circulated across social media.

Delevingne elaborated onstage that she historically felt drawn to women who identified as straight, describing it as “the challenge” and adding that she did not believe “anyone is fully straight.” She also jokingly suggested that some men “didn’t know how to pleasure their girlfriends well enough,” saying she “did that for them,” a remark that generated both laughs in the arena and debate online about stereotypes, humor, and queer women’s experiences.

Toward the end of the confessional segment, Delevingne shifted from jokes to vulnerability, reflecting on how intimacy dynamics have changed now that she is in a committed relationship with singer Minke. She told the audience that she used to love being “the dominant one” and “taking control” but realized that this was partly because she was “scared of being seen” and hesitant to be emotionally “submissive” and receive love, adding that she now feels ready to let herself be more vulnerable.

From public fluidity to a clear label

Delevingne has previously described her sexuality in more fluid terms, including identifying as pansexual, and has spoken about attraction to more than one gender across several interviews over the past decade. In 2015, she rejected the suggestion that relationships with women were a “phase,” telling The New York Times, “My sexuality is not a phase. I am who I am,” after controversy over an earlier Vogue profile that speculated her attraction to women might be temporary.

Coverage of that 2015 Vogue backlash noted that a writer appeared to link Delevingne’s queerness to her complicated relationship with her mother, prompting criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates who argued that the article pathologized her sexuality. In subsequent years, Delevingne spoke frequently about sexual fluidity and being a queer woman, including in interviews that explored her gender expression and her role in shows like “Planet Sex,” which examined different aspects of global queer culture.

Her most recent comments mark a shift from emphasizing fluidity and resistance to categorization toward explicitly calling herself a lesbian, even as she reiterates that she dislikes being boxed in by any label. An updated entry on her Wikipedia biography also notes that Delevingne publicly revealed she is a lesbian in 2026 after previously identifying as pansexual, reflecting how media records are now integrating her new self‑description.

Discomfort with labels and online scrutiny

In her Variety “Up Next” conversation, released May 29, 2026, Delevingne responded directly to social media debate sparked by the Rosalía tour moment and by her dating history. She noted that after she said “I’m a lesbian” onstage, some commenters insisted “She’s not gay, she’s pan” or referenced her past relationships with men, which she characterized as part of a broader tendency for the public to police queer people’s identities.

Delevingne emphasized that she has “always hated labels” and believes no one should feel obligated to categorize their sexuality in a specific way if it does not feel right. At the same time, she described claiming “lesbian” now as something that feels aligned with her current life and long‑term plans, saying she does not envision being with anyone else and wants to have a family with her current partner.

At one point in the interview, Delevingne added with characteristic humor that she likes to “mess with people” by bluntly stating “I’m a lesbian,” even as she reiterates that no one should be forced to “put a label on” themselves. This mix of playfulness and seriousness underscores how she navigates the expectations placed on high‑profile LGBTQ+ figures to serve as both representatives and individuals with evolving identities.

Sobriety, music, and a new chapter

Delevingne’s reflections on identity came as part of a wider conversation about her personal and professional transformation, including three years of sobriety and the launch of her first full‑length music project. The Variety “Up Next” segment, which runs just over 30 minutes, focuses on how she moved through a period of emotional crisis, including episodes like “crying in the shower,” before allowing herself to make music seriously.

In the interview, Delevingne discusses sharing a music video with friend Taylor Swift, working on a second album even before releasing the first, and weaving queer themes into her creative work. She also mentions everyday details, like the elaborate names she has given her cats, framing these anecdotes as part of a grounded life that coexists with public scrutiny and intense media attention.

Delevingne links her ability to be more open about her sexuality and relationship to the stability she has found in recovery and in a supportive partnership. In recounting how she once coped with internalized shame around her queerness, she positions her current self‑description as a lesbian as part of a broader healing process rather than a sudden change.

Impact on LGBTQ+ representation and labels debate

As one of the most visible queer women in fashion and entertainment, Delevingne’s evolving language about her identity continues to influence broader conversations about sexuality, labels, and visibility. Commentators have previously framed her as part of a “new generation’s queer, feminist It girl,” noting that her public relationships with women and unapologetic gender expression have helped normalize diverse queer experiences for younger audiences.

Her decision in 2026 to publicly call herself a lesbian—after years of speaking about fluidity and rejecting rigid categories—highlights the dynamic nature of sexual identity, especially for people whose lives and relationships unfold in the public eye. By foregrounding both her discomfort with labels and her current pride in claiming one, Delevingne underscores that person‑first language and self‑determination remain central to respectful conversations about LGBTQ+ identities.

Background and context

Heated Rivalry is an LGBTQ+ romance drama based on author Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, centering on rival hockey stars Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie. The first season follows the pair through years of competition and clandestine affection as they balance high‑stakes professional sport with a deeply felt but closeted relationship, and the show has grown from a Canadian hit into an international phenomenon for Crave and HBO Max.

The series has been renewed for a second season, with HBO Max confirming the news in December 2025 via an Instagram video in which Williams and Storrie open a gift box containing a hockey puck emblazoned with “Heated Rivalry” on one side and “Season 2” on the other. In a joint statement, creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady described watching the show become “an international phenomenon” as “extraordinary” and said they were “profoundly grateful” for the support that led to an early renewal.

The Fabian Salah casting call

Fan excitement around the character Fabian Salah dates back to earlier casting‑call material for season two that circulated online, describing him as an androgynous musician and one of the focal characters of Tough Guy, the third book in Reid’s Game Changers series. The description that caught many viewers’ attention called for a male performer in his late 20s to early 30s of Lebanese descent, with an “androgynous, lean and lithe” look, and designated the role as “series recurring,” indicating an ongoing presence beyond a one‑episode guest spot.

Online coverage of the casting call framed Fabian as a major addition to the ensemble, reflecting the importance of his storyline in Reid’s novels and the broader expansion of the show’s queer and trans‑inclusive hockey universe. That same breakdown also listed several other new characters from across the Game Changers series, including Ryan Price, Eric Bennett, Harris Drover, Wyatt Hayes, Luca Haas, Dallas Kent, and Dr. Galina Molchalina, suggesting an adaptation strategy that weaves together narratives from multiple books.

The Hudson Williams–Abdalla Amour photo

Speculation over Fabian’s casting surged after a recent picture showed Hudson Williams and cast‑mate Kaden Connors posing with Abdalla Amour during the Canadian Screen Awards. Williams plays lead character Shane Hollander, while Connors portrays Sasha, a friend of Ilya Rozanov, and the trio were photographed together on the red carpet at the industry event.

Connors later shared a group shot including Amour with the caption “Proud beyond belief for my Heated Rivalry family,” alongside Rachel Reid and co‑stars Kolton Stewart , Callan Potter , Slavic Rogozine , and Benjamin Roy . Fans quickly interpreted Amour’s presence in the photo, combined with the affectionate “family” caption, as a potential hint that he had joined the cast in a significant capacity.

Supporters also noticed that Amour’s Instagram account follows Tierney, Reid, and Tierney’s production company Accent Aigu Entertainment, which many online commenters viewed as further circumstantial evidence that he could be involved with the show. One Reddit user quoted in coverage said, “If he doesn’t have the role, he must really want it,” while another suggested the photo might have been posted deliberately to “intentionally buzz.”

Who is Abdalla Amour?

Publicly available information describes Abdalla Amour as a Lebanese‑Ukrainian model based in New York City, London, and Canada, reflecting a transnational career in fashion and entertainment. His IMDb page lists appearances in productions including Unsolved Mysteries, The Deep Web, and Strangers, giving him prior screen experience before any potential involvement with Heated Rivalry.

Coverage notes that Amour’s look and background appear to match many of the traits outlined in the Fabian casting notice, particularly the call for a performer of Lebanese descent with an androgynous, lean, and lithe appearance. This perceived alignment has strengthened fan belief that the photo is not a coincidence, even as reporting stresses that no official casting announcement has been made by HBO Max, Crave, or the show’s producers.

Social media reaction and fan theories

On social platform X and other social media channels, viewers of Heated Rivalry reacted enthusiastically to the possibility of Amour playing Fabian, with posts quoted in reporting calling the potential choice “10/10 casting once again” and saying “He would make a good Fabian” and “Oooh! I see the vision!” Some fans argued that sharing the Canadian Screen Awards photos was unlikely to be an accidental reveal and instead might be a calculated way to build anticipation without releasing formal casting news.

Others urged caution, pointing out that public appearances and social media interactions do not confirm employment on a specific production and suggesting that Amour’s proximity to cast and crew might simply reflect professional or community connections. Reporting to date echoes that distinction, describing the reaction as fan speculation rather than verified casting and emphasizing that all information about Amour’s potential role is, at this stage, inference rather than official confirmation.

What’s confirmed about season two

While the Fabian rumors remain unconfirmed, there is more concrete information about Heated Rivalry’s next season. Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady told CBS Mornings that the second season is currently being written, with filming scheduled to begin in August 2026 and a planned release window in April 2027.

Tierney has said that the new episodes will adapt The Long Game, the sixth Game Changers novel, which revisits Shane and Ilya a decade into their relationship as they continue to hide their love while juggling career pressures and the question of coming out publicly. Entertainment coverage notes that The Long Game storyline includes the couple’s move toward launching a joint charity organization and navigating the emotional cost of secrecy, themes expected to carry over into the on‑screen adaptation.

At BookCon in April 2026, Tierney described The Long Game as “so long” and “so gamey,” and said adapting the book means entering “much more serious territory,” even as flirting and sex remain part of the narrative. He also revealed that characters from Reid’s novel Role Model, including Ottawa Centaurs forward Troy Barrett and social media manager Harris Drover, will appear in the show, further expanding the universe of queer and questioning athletes and professionals whose lives intersect with Shane and Ilya.

Casting philosophy and queer representation

Casting coverage for Heated Rivalry has emphasized the care taken by the creative team to find performers who can convey both the intensity of elite sport and the vulnerability of queer love under scrutiny. In interviews about season one, Connor Storrie has recalled that Hudson Williams was the third actor he read with for the role of Shane and that their chemistry was immediately obvious, prompting Tierney to text for Storrie’s opinion and leading to Williams’ casting.

The show’s success has also sparked wider discussion about the importance of queer‑affirming narratives in mainstream sports storytelling, with commentators noting that Heated Rivalry combines on‑ice action with a tender, explicitly gay love story between two high‑profile athletes. Outlets such as RTE and ELLE have highlighted how the series centers the emotional interiority of its leads—both queer men navigating public expectations and private desire—rather than relegating them to side characters or cautionary tales.

Waiting for official word

As of early June 2026, neither HBO Max, Crave, nor series creators have officially confirmed who will play Fabian Salah, and Amour’s possible involvement remains unannounced. Press coverage consistently characterizes the idea that Amour has been cast as Fabian as fan speculation, not verified fact, despite the confluence of visual, biographical, and social media clues that have energized the show’s online community.

In the meantime, queer and allied viewers continue to celebrate the visibility that Heated Rivalry provides for same‑gender relationships in men’s professional sports, even as they await concrete updates about new characters and storylines. With scripts underway and production slated for later this year, official casting announcements—whether or not they confirm fan hopes for Amour as Fabian—are expected to arrive as the series prepares to return to set.