Comedian Margaret Cho’s Decision to Decline Role in “Heated Rivalry”
Comedian Margaret Cho has publicly expressed her concerns about the potential consequences of her outspoken criticism of the U.S. government, particularly regarding President Donald Trump and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She revealed that these concerns led her to turn down a significant role in the hit series “Heated Rivalry.”
Cho explained that she declined the part because the show was filmed in Canada. Her decision was driven by fear that her strong public opposition to Trump’s administration and ICE could make her a target for border harassment or detention when returning to the United States.
The Role That Got Away
During an interview on the “I Never Liked You” podcast with Matteo Lane and Nick Smith, Cho shared that she was originally considered for the role of Yuna Hollander, the mother of the protagonist hockey star, Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams. However, the role eventually went to actress Christina Chang.
“Last year, I got a pilot script for a show that I really loved, but it shot in Canada,” Cho said. “And I was so scared because I’m so vocal about hating ICE and hating this administration. I was like, I will get detained at the border, and I will be put in ICE detention if I go.”
Cho admitted that missing out on the breakout queer sports drama “Heated Rivalry” “kills” her. She noted that she is a massive fan of the series and has even hosted watch parties.
A Deep Dislike for Trump
“I’ve watched it. I’ve hosted some rewatch parties, and I’m like it kills me, as it kills me because of Trump,” Cho said.
The comedian has been a vocal critic of the president, whom she called “abhorrent” in 2015. She recalled being asked to appear on Trump’s reality show, “Celebrity Apprentice,” because he was reportedly “a fan” of her comedy, something she said she found very “weird.”
Missed Opportunity and Future Hopes
“I was asked several times to be on it, season after season, and they kept saying, ‘Well, Donald Trump really loves you. Please come on,” Cho said in March.
“I just had a bad feeling about it, because I did go on one of the challenges because my friend Cyndi Lauper was competing one year, and so she did something at a diner, so I went, and I helped out,” she revealed.
Despite the missed opportunity, Cho confirmed she has contacted the production team. She hopes to secure a new role or a recurring appearance in the show’s upcoming second season.
Overview of “Heated Rivalry”
Based on Rachel Reid’s popular “Game Changers” book series, the HBO Max and Crave series is an enemies-to-lovers romance. It follows rival professional hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.
The show premiered in late 2025 and quickly achieved breakout streaming success, earning an early renewal for a second season.
Criticism from Conservative Figures
MAGA figures and conservative pundits have criticized the hit TV adaptation, labeling the show’s intense female fan base as having lost their minds and expressing discomfort with the gay romantic sports drama’s explicit content.
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