An Orthodox Christian group has called for a same-sex sports romance TV show to be banned because of the content it contains.
Of course, it’s unlikely that the streaming services will allow that, since it’s been a smash hit.
Heated Rivalry is definitely getting people heated… in different ways
The show is called Heated Rivalry and it is a Canadian series that is now available to watch right now on various broadcasters around the world.
It’s been very popular indeed, with people around the world drawn into the story of two ice hockey players - one Canadian, one Russian - who fall in love despite being on opposing teams.
Based on the best-selling book by Rachel Reid, the series has fans everywhere captured, as it tells the story of how the two men are hiding a secret romance from the world despite seemingly being engaged in a bitter public rivalry.
The original work was such a hit that it’s hardly a surprise to see it adapted for the screen, and it’s even less of a surprise that it has been a success - in fact, season two has already been confirmed.
However, it is also unsurprising that the limited series has drawn criticism from certain organizations that aren’t happy with the level of LGBTQI+ representation on show.
Heated Rivalry has drawn some angry responses
One organization that isn’t happy with the premise of the show - or anything about it, really - is Sorok Sorokov, a Russian Orthodox Christian group that promotes ‘traditional’ values in the sex and relationships space.
It’s not hard to believe where they’d see the problem here, not just because a Russian character is involved as well.
The group made an announcement last week calling upon the Prosecutor General’s Office and Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor to remove the series from streaming platforms.
You wouldn’t bet against their plan being successful, either.
The Supreme Court in Russia announced that the ‘international LGBT movement’ around the world was an ‘extremist organization’ and the State Duma has also banned ‘LGBT propaganda’ and displays of homosexuality, particularly promoting it.
Speaking to local media, the group’s chairman Georgy Soldatov said: "Heated Rivalry is a Canadian series where the main characters openly propagate pederasty.
"It’s hard to imagine how it was released on Russian online platforms.
"The series is full of sodomite sex scenes.
“Russia already has a mortality rate higher than its birth rate, and yet we allow our youth to be shown propaganda of unnatural debauchery."
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Of course, his statement has been met with anger and backlash from fans of the show.
One said: "And this is exactly why a queer show being so successful and mainstream is important!
Another joked: "They just couldn’t handle how hot the sex scenes were."
A third - quite reasonably - questioned: "How does Russia's high mortality rate have to do with HEATED RIVALRY."
Heated Rivalry is available to watch on HBO Max in the USA now.