• Dan Powers of the Empty Netters podcast addressed a report that he secretly disliked Heated Rivalry.
• The podcaster admitted that he known as the present "trash" in a non-public textual content message earlier than watching the present.
• Nonetheless, he insisted that the texts have been "completely taken out of context" and that his enthusiasm for the homosexual hockey romance collection is real.

A hockey podcaster who went viral for his reward for Heated Rivalry is responding to claims that he secretly disliked the present.

Dan Powers, one of many hosts of the Empty Netters podcast, addressed an Outsports report that he known as the homosexual hockey romance collection "trash" in non-public whereas capitalizing on the present's recognition in public.

"I do know {that a} ton of individuals are shocked by this, confused by this, and pissed off by this, and I take that very, very significantly," Powers stated in a video posted Thursday. "And I need to say that this has caught me utterly off guard and, frankly, is super-disappointing."

The preferred movies on the Empty Netters YouTube channel are all opinions of Heated Rivalry, which stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie as rival hockey stars who share a non-public, passionate romance off the ice.

Powers stated the textual content messages that appeared within the report have been actual, however famous that they have been despatched earlier than he had truly seen nearly all of Heated Rivalry.

"The timeline implied on this article is totally false and inaccurate and it means that we have been watching this present, sending messages like this, whereas on the identical time reviewing it and talking poorly about it, which is totally inaccurate," he stated. "These messages have been despatched over every week earlier than we had ever watched the present and earlier than we had ever posted a assessment."

Powers went on to share screenshots of the texts that he had shared with somebody he "thought-about an excellent good friend," noting that it was "crushing that this particular person would attempt to execute an assault" on his present.

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"So right here's my lame reasoning," the host stated in a textual content. "As a author/And somebody who works within the leisure trade/This present ENRAGES me."

Powers continued, "I believe these losers who made this present are cowards. They're Canadian for crying out loud – and in an area that has hockey followers DYING for an excellent, high quality, nicely written, and AUTHENTIC hockey present…that is the trash they make as a result of it panders, it's provocative, and it checks inclusivity packing containers."

The podcaster insisted that the texts have been taken out of context within the unique report. "I prefaced all of them by saying 'My lame author take' — implying and telling my good friend, 'That is my jealous hyperbolic ridiculous take' as a result of anybody who is aware of me, or anybody who watches this podcast, is aware of that I exploit absurd hyperbolic language to drive dwelling a degree," Powers defined. "It doesn't imply I imply these issues."

Powers additionally stated that his personal expertise attempting to jot down a hockey collection drove his preliminary criticism of the present, of which he stated he had solely seen 10 minutes on the time that he despatched the texts. "I used to be utilizing that language as a result of as a author in Hollywood who has tried and did not make a hockey present, an genuine hockey drama, I then stated privately that simply one other hockey smut romance present was being made as a substitute of being genuine," he stated. "That was me being uninformed. I hadn't watched the present but."

Powers additionally stated the controversy saddened him as a result of it forged doubt on Empty Netters' enthusiasm for Heated Rivalry. "Now the people who we loved this excellent scenario and this excellent second with are made to really feel like they’ll't belief what they noticed," he stated. "You've now doubtlessly made these folks really feel like they’ll't belief the authenticity and the stunning nature of these moments, and that breaks my coronary heart."

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The podcaster reiterated that he genuinely loves Heated Rivalry and its creators. "What I used to be saying was not directed on the superb individuals who made this present. It was completely taken out of context," he stated. "For the people who find themselves upset or offended nonetheless, or confused, I completely perceive, however I'd like to only say, give us an opportunity. Give me an opportunity."

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