A local news agency and one of its directors in Russia have been fined a substantial amount for publishing a review on the popular series “Heated Rivalry,” which Russian officials view as LGBTQ+ propaganda. The fines, disclosed by the independent Russian news outlet Mediazona and confirmed by CBC News, were imposed following the release of a review on the queer hockey series by SaratovBusinessConsulting, a website covering entertainment and news.
The review, which included a link providing details on accessing the show, was posted in February but has since been removed. The fines were enforced due to the perceived LGBTQ+ propaganda nature of the series. The news agency was fined 500,000 rubles (over $9,000 Cdn), while the agency’s director received a fine of 50,000 rubles (around $900 Cdn).
“Heated Rivalry,” originally produced for Bell Media’s streaming platform, Crave, and broadcast on HBO Max in the U.S., is only accessible in Russia through a VPN or unauthorized platforms. Despite these limitations, the show has garnered a sizable fan base in Russia, with fan tributes and content circulating on social media.
The review highlighted the series’ rising popularity, which has received a high rating of 8.3 out of 10 from over 60,000 fans on Kinopoisk, a Russian platform similar to IMDb. The storyline delves into the romantic relationship between Russian hockey player Ilya Rozanov and Canadian player Shane Hollander, with a central theme revolving around Rozanov’s apprehension about publicly disclosing his sexuality.
Russian legislation prohibits LGBTQ+ propaganda, signed into law by President Vladimir Putin in 2022, leading to censorship of media content promoting non-traditional relationships. The ban has resulted in the removal of books and films from circulation, including works by prominent authors like Oscar Wilde and Haruki Murakami. Furthermore, Russia has labeled the LGBTQ+ movement an extremist group and taken legal action against individuals sharing images of the Pride flag.
The series “Heated Rivalry” has faced challenges in Russia due to its LGBTQ+ themes, reflecting the broader crackdown on content deemed to violate the country’s stringent laws on promoting non-traditional relationships.
