A local news agency and one of its directors in Russia have been fined a significant amount of money for a review they published about the popular series “Heated Rivalry,” which is considered LGBTQ+ propaganda by Russian legislators.
The fines, reported by the independent Russian news site Mediazona and confirmed by CBC News, were imposed recently after the review of the queer hockey series was posted by SaratovBusinessConsulting, an entertainment and news website.
According to a press officer from the Oktyabrsky District Court in Saratov, the review contained a link providing information on how to stream the show. The article was published in February but has since been removed. The fines were issued due to the content being labeled as LGBTQ+ propaganda.
The news agency responsible for the website was fined 500,000 rubles (over $9,000 Cdn), while the agency’s director received a fine of 50,000 rubles (approximately $900 Cdn).
“Heated Rivalry,” available on Bell Media’s Crave platform and HBO Max in the U.S., can only be accessed in Russia through a VPN or pirated sources. Despite these restrictions, the series has garnered a sizable fan base in Russia, with fan content appearing on social media platforms.
The review highlighted the show’s popularity, with over 60,000 fans on Kinopoisk rating “Heated Rivalry” 8.3 out of 10. The series centers around the relationship between Russian hockey player Ilya Rozanov and Canadian hockey player Shane Hollander, exploring Rozanov’s apprehension about coming out as gay publicly.
Russian fans have connected with the show due to Rozanov’s personal challenges, resonating deeply with them. Russia enforces strict laws against promoting LGBTQ+ content, with President Vladimir Putin signing legislation in 2022 banning such material in media and labeling the LGBTQ+ movement as an “extremist organization.”
