Margaret Cho Declines Heated Rivalry Role Over ICE Fears

Comedian and actress Margaret Cho disclosed that she declined a role in the HBO Max series Heated Rivalry last year due to concerns about potential detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while traveling to Canada for filming.

Cho shared the details during a recent appearance on the podcast I Never Liked You, hosted by Matteo Lane and Nick Smith. "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," she said. "I was like, I will get detained at the border and I will be put in ICE detention if I go." After consulting others and struggling with the decision, Cho ultimately turned down the opportunity. "I was super upset about it, and I said no. And it was Heated Rivalry," she recounted.

The series, based on Rachel Reid's book series, premiered on HBO Max and Canadian streamer Crave on November 28, 2025. It centers on professional hockey players Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie, who are rivals on the ice but conduct a secret romance off it. The show quickly gained popularity as a steamy queer...