Fans of steamy gay hockey TV show Heated Rivalry are celebrating at the moment, as it appears Last of Us star Pedro Pascal is one of their number.

The smash-hit series, which has already been renewed for a second season, follows two rival pro-ice hockey players, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, who develop a passionate”enemies-to-lovers” relationship.

On Monday (22 December), pop culture X.com account Buzzing Pop shared some screenshots of the actor’s Instagram comments and likes, with the caption: “Pedro Pascal shows support for ‘Heated Rivalry’ by liking and commenting on posts about the series.”

The post has been retweeted over 400 times so far, and shows Pedro Pascal commenting with three love heart emojis on a viral Instagram reel, which documented a sports bar crowd’s reaction to the passionate on-ice kiss that takes place in Heated Rivalry episode five.

He also liked a reel captioned: “When ur tipsy but still remember you must spread the gospel of Heated Rivalry“, and a third that said: “When your country is burning to the ground but Canada gives you a gay hockey show at least.”

Fans of both the actor and Heated Rivalry commented on the Buzzing Pop post, with one writing: “He’s probably too expensive and would leave them without a budget, but I’d love to see (him) in season two.”

Another said: “Pedro Pascal liking the same reels I also liked on heated rivalry is killing me lmfaoooo.”

Pedro Pascal’s LGBTQ+ allyship

The Mandalorian star has a long history of being an outspoken and proud LGBTQ+ ally, particularly when it comes to defending trans rights.

Pedro Pascal’s sister, Lux, is trans, and he has repeatedly discussed how proud he is of her. Also, when she first revealed her trans identity to the world in 2021, he posted a sweet message of support.

In a heartwarming Instagram post, the actor uploaded a photograph of Lux’s cover for the Chilean magazine Revista Ya, where she opened up about her transition.

“My sister, my heart, our Lux,” the Chilean-born actor wrote in Spanish in the caption. Lux went on to explain that Pedro helped her through that time, giving her the “tools” she needed to understand her gender.

“Pedro has been an important part of this,” she told the magazine. “He’s also an artist and has served as a guide for me. He was one of the first people to gift me the tools that started shaping my identity.”

More recently, he rocked up to the premiere of Marvel’s Thunderbolts* in April 2025 wearing his now iconic ‘Protect The Dolls’ t-shirt in support of trans rights, and the actor has continued to post and re-post messages of support for the queer and trans community.