Highlights
- A high school photo of Hudson Williams with a swastika on his face resurfaced online Saturday.
- Sources say Williams had no idea the offensive symbol was being drawn on his face.
- The Heated Rivalry star deeply regrets the image, per those close to him.
A troubling old face photo of Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams has resurfaced online, showing the 25-year-old Canadian actor with a swastika drawn across his forehead, and sources close to him are now offering a response on his behalf.
The image dates back to Williams’ high school years in a small Canadian town, where teens participated in an annual campout tradition that often involved underage drinking, partying, and covering one another’s shirts, faces, and bodies with Sharpie drawings.
Sources told TMZ that Williams “had no idea what was being drawn on his face at the time, and the offensive symbol was the result of other intoxicated teens scribbling inappropriate images on one another in an attempt to get laughs and shock reactions.”
The resurfaced face photo shows the actor with a group of friends, with drawings all over his shirt, a swastika drawn on his forehead, and the word “AIDS” on his cheek.
"hudson williams stuns in newly shared photo" pic.twitter.com/N4oQVhUxmI
— hannah 🐳 (@hanfromdastreet) June 7, 2026Sources close to Williams describe the incident as a group of underage kids doing “dumb things” while under the influence, adding that the behavior was “completely inexcusable.”
A friend also came forward with a direct response. “The markings do not and have never reflected Hudson’s beliefs, values, or character,” the friend told TMZ.
Those close to the actor say he understands the hurt and disappointment the photo has caused and deeply regrets it, does not condone or support the offensive markings drawn on him, and recognizes the seriousness of the swastika symbol seen in the image.
Public reaction has been sharply divided. “Teen stupidity at a drunk campout is one thing, but posing for pics with it clearly visible makes the ‘had no idea’ excuse pretty weak. He should just own it and apologize properly,” one critic wrote online. Still, some fans came to his defense: “Your actions as a silly teenager don’t define you. Hudson doesn’t owe anyone any kind of explanation or apologies.”
Williams rose to prominence playing Shane Hollander, a popular hockey player who falls in love with an athlete from a different team, in the hit series Heated Rivalry.
