“Heated Rivalry” author Rachel Reid appears to have a message for fans criticizing the casting choices for Season 2. She seemingly reminded fans that casting criticism can look different once the actors actually take on their roles. Rachel Reid Responds to Casting CriticsFollowing the announcement, Reid shared a pointed message with her followers. ‘Heated Rivalry’ Creators Defend CastingSeries creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady defended the casting in a joint statement. “Rachel Reid has given us two beautifully layered characters in Harris and Troy who you can’t help but root for,” they said.