Margaret Cho just revealed she turned down a role in one of TV’s biggest breakout queer romance series, and according to the comedian, it all came down to fear surrounding ICE and the Trump administration. During a recent appearance on the I Never Liked You podcast, Cho admitted she was offered a role in Heated Rivalry before the show exploded in popularity. But despite loving the script, she ultimately walked away from the opportunity because filming would have taken place in Canada.
Cho explained that she feared crossing the border due to her outspoken political views.
“I’m so vocal about hating ICE and hating this administration,” she said while referencing President Donald Trump.
According to Cho, she genuinely worried she could end up detained if she traveled internationally for work.
“I was like, I will get detained at the border and I will be put in ICE detention if I go,” she revealed.
The comedian said the decision deeply upset her because she believed in the project from the start. Heated Rivalry eventually became a breakout success and helped launch stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams into the spotlight.
Cho admitted she struggled with the decision for a long time and sought advice from multiple people before finally declining the role.
“The pilot was beautiful,” she said. “I was like, I want to do this.”
Even after stepping away from the opportunity, Cho continued following the series closely. She revealed she watched the pilot herself and even hosted rewatch parties for the show afterward.
The regret clearly still lingers.
“It kills me,” she admitted.
Cho then bluntly blamed Trump for the situation, saying, “It’s all because of Trump.”
The comedian also shared that after the first season became a massive success, she tried reaching back out to the show’s team in hopes of possibly joining future seasons. Season 2 of Heated Rivalry is expected to begin filming later this year.
Cho has remained one of Hollywood’s loudest critics of ICE policies and the Trump administration overall. Throughout the years, she has frequently used her platform to speak about immigration enforcement, LGBTQ+ rights, and political extremism.
The actress also recently criticized actor Dean Cain over his support for ICE.
Meanwhile, Heated Rivalry continues becoming one of television’s biggest LGBTQ+ romance hits, with fans already heavily anticipating season 2 after the breakout popularity of its debut season.