Jill Biden bid a whopping $35,000 for a cameo in Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry,” but was outbid by some more diehard fans of the show.
The former first lady tried her luck at securing a walk-on role on the HBO Max sports romance during the NYC LGBT Center’s annual Center Dinner gala Thursday night.
“Dr Jill Biden was a surprise guest tonight – and just bid $35k for a walk on [sic] role in Heated Rivalry season 2!” former Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Versha Sharma tweeted after the event.
However, the 74-year-old educator was ultimately outbid by $90,000.
“Final winners bid $125k each, for a total of $250k raised for the center!” Sharma added.
But Biden was a good sport about losing out on the “Heated Rivalry” opportunity, and took to X to celebrate the NYC LGBT Center.
“Guess I won’t be heading to the cottage after all—but it was worth a shot!” she wrote. “What a wonderful evening supporting @LGBTCenterNYC.”
Biden was at the gala dinner as a surprise guest and appeared to attend the annual event with multimillionaire tech entrepreneur Tim Gill, a spy told Page Six.
“She wasn’t a part of the program. She didn’t get on stage and speak,” the insider told us. “They announced she was there, and everyone gave her a standing ovation.”
The former first lady ended up staying the entire night and was even said to have danced center stage as Mel C performed her newest song, “Sweat,” with the Season 18 “Rupaul’s Drag Race” finalists Darlene Mitchell, Myki Meeks and Nini Coco.
While Biden spoke to other attendees throughout the star-studded night, a source said the Secret Service stepped in at one point to let the eager crowd know it was time for her to enjoy dinner.
Other VIPs at the bash included Brooks Brothers CEO Ken Chashi and husband Adam Freed, former “Good Day New York” anchor Baruch Shemtov and CBS News Business analyst Jill Schelsinger.
Thursday night’s gala dinner also honored several people behind “Heated Rivalry,” including creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady.
Author Rachel Reid, who penned the “Game Changers” book series that “Heated Rivalry” was adapted from, was also there to present Tierney with the center’s Cultural Impact Award.
Starring Hudson Williams, 25, as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie, 26, as Ilya Rozanov, “Heated Rivalry” follows the two pro hockey rivals as they navigate a secret romance off the ice.
But the characters step away from the spotlight and escape to a secluded Ontario cottage together during the season’s pivotal and tender finale.
Filming for the fan-favorite episode took place at a real lakeside cottage in Muskoka, and fans of the show can now book a stay at the property through Airbnb for $248.10 CAD per night ($181 USD).
“Airbnb wanted the price to be reduced to make it affordable for more people,” Jayne McCaw, who manages the property, told the New York Times earlier this year.
“It is their two hockey numbers put together,” she added of the $248.10 CAD rental price. Williams’ Shane wears 24 for the Montreal Metros in “Heated Rivalry,” while Storries’ Ilya wears 81 for the Boston Raiders.
Meanwhile, Biden wouldn’t be the only A-lister to reveal her obsession with the steamy hockey love story.
Pedro Pascal and Jon Hamm both gushed over Storrie ahead of the his “Saturday Night Live” hosting debut in February.
Dylan O’Brien also gave François Arnaud, who stars as Scott Hunter in the show, a shoutout during an interview earlier this year.
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