‘Let It Be Horny’: Heated Rivalry Creator Jacob Tierney on His Unapologetic Approach to TV Sex

Sex isn't supposed to be trauma on TV. That's the core philosophy of Jacob Tierney, the creator of the global hit series ‘Heated Rivalry’. In a candid interview with Entertainment Weekly, Tierney shared his vision for the show's much-discussed steamy scenes, challenging Hollywood's often puritanical approach to intimacy on screen.

A Philosophy of Horniness

Tierney's message is refreshingly direct. "We were very aware we're making a horny show. Let it be horny. Enjoy!" he said. The series, which began on Canada's Crave before exploding globally on HBO Max, follows the secret relationship between two rival professional hockey players. He criticized what he calls a "very limiting, puritanical way of looking at sex scenes," where creators either "pan away" or "omit people's sex lives entirely."

With ‘Heated Rivalry’, Tierney was determined to avoid portraying sex as trauma. "I want it to be beautiful," he explained.

The Choreography of Intimacy

These moments were crafted with meticulous care. The production employed an intimacy coordinator, Chala Hunter, to ensure a safe and professional environment. "The fans get spontaneity, but we see mechanics," said lead actor Hudson Williams. Tierney recalled watching the raw footage and hearing the actors check in on each other in low voices between takes. "Like, 'You good?' 'Do you want me to move something?' They're so aware of each other."

Tierney also playfully debunked a claim from actor François Arnaud, who previously told EW he shot "like two days of sex scenes." According to Tierney, it was more like "one afternoon." "He's not lying," Tierney commented comically. "He's being an actor."

From Page to Screen

The show's bold depiction of sex honors its source material, Rachel Reid's explicit ‘Game Changer’ romance novels. Instead of leaving actors to improvise, Tierney scripted the intimate moments with the same specificity as the books. "I wanted them to be choreographed like a dance," he explained, noting his priority was to create a comfortable environment where the actors didn't feel pressure to improvise.