A pair of actors, Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie, are joining the cast of “Heated Rivalry” for its second season, prompting early online criticism. The news is reported alongside comments made by series author Rachel Reid on social media later the same day.
Both outlets say Reid responded to the negative reactions by appearing to brush off the chatter surrounding the casting. Variety notes Reid posted on her Instagram story after the casting announcement, while Deadline describes a similar response, framing it as the author dismissing online backlash. Neither source indicates that Reid directly addresses specific criticisms or details any changes to casting plans.
The differing angle between outlets centers on how the response is characterized—both describe it as dismissive, but Deadline emphasizes the overall pattern of fan and opinion responses to casting news, while Variety focuses more on Reid’s personal reaction to negativity. Together, the coverage centers on the cast additions and the author’s social media response rather than any formal statements from the show or casting team.
