Hudson Williams is once again making headlines, this time over a tense confrontation in Paris. The Heated Rivalry breakout star was caught on video confronting a group of autograph seekers after accusing them of following him to his residence.
Footage obtained by USA Today shows Williams refusing to sign a photo before taking it from one of the collectors. He then allegedly tried to set it on fire with a lighter, and when it wouldn’t ignite, he tore it into pieces. Clearly upset during the encounter, the 25-year-old actor told the group, “Guys, you just followed me to my residence.”
When one of the autograph seekers apologized, Hudson Williams immediately rejected it, responding, “No, no ‘sorry.’ You can’t do this.”
He also threw away the marker they had given him and continued expressing his frustration, telling the group, “You guys aren’t fans. You’re being really creepy, and you just followed me. You don’t do this.”
After unsuccessfully trying to light the photo on fire, Williams added, “I’m going to burn this at home.”
The incident took place while the actor was in France for Haute Couture Fashion Week, where he attended Balenciaga’s Fall/Winter 2026 show. The Canadian star has quickly risen to prominence through HBO Max’s Heated Rivalry, in which he stars alongside Connor Storrie.
The confrontation comes just weeks after Williams faced criticism over resurfaced photos from his teenage years showing a swastika drawn above his eyebrow during what friends described as an alcohol-fueled high school campout prank.
People close to the actor have maintained that he was unaware the symbol had been drawn on his face. One friend stated, “The markings do not and have never reflected Hudson’s beliefs, values, or character.”
Despite those explanations, the controversy prompted Peloton to remove social media posts featuring Williams, even as he and Connor Storrie earned Television Critics Association Award nominations for Heated Rivalry.
