Empty Netters Podcast Host Dan Powers Addresses Backlash Over Leaked Texts Criticizing 'Heated Rivalry'

Dan Powers and his brother Chris Powers, former hockey players and hosts of the Empty Netters podcast, gained significant attention for their enthusiastic public reviews of the LGBTQ+ hockey romance series Heated Rivalry. Their recaps of episodes one, five, and six each amassed over 500, 00 views, and the podcast began selling Heated Rivalry-themed merchandise including $32 T-shirts and $45 crew neck sweaters. This coverage contributed to broader media recognition from outlets like Vulture and Rolling Stone, positioning Empty Netters as straight men authentically appreciating queer-inclusive content in professional hockey.

On Thursday, January 22, 2026, Outsports published a report revealing private text messages from Dan Powers that contradicted the podcast's praise. In the messages, viewed by Outsports reporter Cyd Zeigler, Powers wrote: “I think these losers who made this show are cowards. He added: “This is the trash they make because it panders, it’s provocative, and it checks inclusivity boxes. Powers further stated the show's positive reception was “making blue haired twitter happy” and that he refused to give it “the time of day” out of principle.

The report sparked immediate backlash from Heated Rivalry fans and the LGBTQ+ community, who accused Empty Netters of performative allyship. One social media user posted: “No greater indictment of the current culture of inclusivity in hockey than Empty Netters feigning queer allyship while secretly mocking and demeaning the people who were keeping their bills paid. Disappointment spread online, questioning the authenticity of straight supporters in promoting queer stories within a sport with a historically complicated relationship to the LGBTQ+ community.

On Friday, January 23, 2026, Dan Powers released a nearly 18-minute video on Empty Netters'social media channels titled “Here Are The Texts, directly addressing the controversy. “This has caught me completely off guard and frankly is super disappointing, Powers said, emphasizing that the timeline in the Outsports article was “completely false and inaccurate. He clarified that the messages were sent over a week before he or his brother had watched the show or posted any reviews.

Powers explained the texts were shared with another podcaster who was raving about Heated Rivalry, framing his initial comments as a “lame writer take” critiquing the show's premise as a TV writer expecting a traditional hockey series rather than a romance. He described his language as “absurd hyperbolic” to drive a point, admitting he was “uninformed” before viewing it. Powers displayed the full messages in the video and disputed Outsports'claim of reaching out for comment, sharing screenshots of texts from Zeigler while noting he only responds through “proper channels.

“I’m so disappointed in the people at play here, Outsports being a site that is for the LGBTQ+ community to do something that is so harmful, Powers said, arguing it undermined trust in their genuine appreciation. He insisted: “What you saw and what we experienced together was just the truth. It was so honest and authentic, I loved every second of it. I don’t want to lose that. The exchange underscores ongoing discussions about allyship, context in private versus public discourse, and the challenges of queer representation in sports like hockey, where inclusivity efforts remain contentious.