Justice Smith is speaking out following the news he’s joining season two of Heated Rivalry.
The 31-year-old actor has been cast as Harris Drover in the hit Crave-HBO Max show. He and Charlie Gillespie, who will play Troy Barrett, join in leading roles alongside Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie.
“I have to say I am moved by the support and love I’m getting from fans in my DMs, fans who have welcomed me with open arms and who already feel a responsibility to protect me,” the actor said in an Instagram story post.
Some fans online have criticized the decision to cast a non-plus sized actor to play the character of Harris, who was described as chubbier than the hockey players of the book. “I am honored to play a character you all care about deeply and I promise I will take good care of him if you give me the chance. I am beyond excited for this experience.”
However, many online were quick to defend the casting, including Rachel Reid, who wrote the novels Heated Rivalry is based upon. “Thinking about all the people last summer who told me the casting for Ilya and Shane was wrong and bad…” she wrote on an Instagram story shortly after the casting news was announced Friday.
