Gay Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy recently opened up about his past relationship with a man during the time he was linked to Miley Cyrus. Drawing parallels to the HBO Max series Heated Rivalry, Kenworthy compared his own experiences to the storyline involving main character Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams.
In the series, Hollander, a gay ice hockey star, is linked to a famous woman named Rose Landry to conceal his true identity. Kenworthy revealed that Cyrus played a similar role in his life, being the famous person he was linked to publicly. Despite the allure of being associated with someone as successful and talented as Cyrus, Kenworthy admitted that it was not the same as being with a man.
Following his silver medal win at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Kenworthy publicly expressed his admiration for Cyrus, leading to widespread speculation about their relationship. However, behind the scenes, Kenworthy was involved in a secret relationship with a man, leading to feelings of guilt and confusion.
Reflecting on his experience, Kenworthy recalled moments of clandestine meetings and hookups, mirroring the on-screen romance in Heated Rivalry. He also shared his dream of making a public declaration of love to his boyfriend if he had won gold at the Winter Games in Russia, where anti-LGBTQ laws were in place.
Kenworthy eventually came out as gay in 2015, with Cyrus showing support and admiration for his courage. She took to Instagram to celebrate her friend’s bravery and express her love and pride for him. Kenworthy also mentioned feeling a connection to another character in Heated Rivalry, Scott Hunter, played by Francois Arnaud.
Overall, Kenworthy’s story highlights the complexities of navigating relationships and identity in the public eye. His journey towards self-acceptance and coming out serves as an inspiration to many, with Cyrus standing by his side as a supportive friend throughout his journey.
