On a chilly day in Victoria, things got unexpectedly heated.
From the outskirts of town, there’s little sign anything unusual has happened. But over the weekend, a shot was fired at the city’s reputation from an unexpected source.
B.C.-born actor Hudson Williams, the rising heartthrob of the hit Heated Rivalry, raised some eyebrows during an appearance at Paris Fashion Week.
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The 25-year-old, who has reportedly been spotted around Victoria filming a new series was asked about the city during a red-carpet interview.
Two things were made clear: Williams is well-versed in local stereotypes, and he’s not shy to share.
“Thirty minutes away from Vancouver. Dead as f—. Old people,” was his response.
The three descriptor, proximity to Vancouver, “dead as f—,” and “old people,” quickly made the rounds online and prompted a mix of reactions from locals.
“What? I am not boring,” said one Victoria resident when told about the comment.
Others saw the moment as an opportunity for a little reflection and a lot of humour.
Even parsing the language sparked debate.
Technically speaking, the phrase “as f—” acts as an informal intensifier, slang used to emphasize the adjective before it. In theory, “dead as f—” could simply mean extremely quiet or very calm.
Whether that interpretation was intended remains unclear.
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto took the comment in stride.
“Clearly he didn’t ask me to show him around town, did he?” Alto joked.
There may be a grain of truth in the actor’s observation. According to the Statistics Canada 2021 census, Victoria’s average age is about 2.9 years older than the national average.
And while the city is known more for ocean views than after-hours clubs, locals insist there’s plenty happening if you know where to look.
Suggestions for the visiting actor came quickly.
“Go for a cold plunge in the nude, man. That’ll spice it up,” one resident laughed.
Others recommended catching live jazz at James Bay United Church or attending schnitzel night at the Edelweiss Club. We’re not sure where Williams stands on schnitzel or jazz, but a Victoria city councillor isn’t losing sleep over the actor’s comments.
“I want to make sure everyone understands I’m not nearly dead,” Marg Gardiner joked, adding she doesn’t believe the city is boring either.
As for Williams’ critique, most locals seem happy to take it with a grain of salt.
One thing we can all agree on is the city’s famous “Welcome to Greater Victoria” sign eventually needs a refresh.
Williams’ slogan just might be a little too fresh.