Overview
- Hudson Williams thanked Jesse Kortuem in a prerecorded video aired on The Drew Barrymore Show, praising his courage and acknowledging the series’ impact.
- Kortuem, a Minnesota native who has played in non‑NHL leagues, went public earlier in January and credited the TV adaptation for giving him the confidence to share his story.
- His social post went viral, and he says people have told him his openness helped them come out to their families.
- He is now focused on outreach, including educating youth hockey groups about locker-room language and inclusion to make the sport safer for LGBTQ+ players.
- Williams previously said he has heard from closeted professional athletes across multiple sports who have reached out anonymously since the show’s debut.