Jill Biden bid a whopping $35,000 for a cameo on Season 2 of “Heated Rivals,” but was outbid by the show’s most obsessive fans.
The former first lady tried her luck at landing a walk-on role on the HBO Max sports romance show Thursday night at the New York City LGBT Center’s annual Center Dinner Gala.
“Dr. Jill Biden was a surprise guest tonight and just placed a $35,000 bid to appear on Season 2 of ‘Heated Rivals!'” former Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Varsha Sharma tweeted after the event.
However, the 74-year-old educator was ultimately sold for $90,000.
“The final winners each bid $125,000, raising a total of $250,000 for the center,” Sharma added.
But Biden is good at passing up opportunities for “heated rivalries,” endorsing X to celebrate New York City’s LGBT center.
“I don’t think I’ll go to the cottage after all, but it was worth a try!” she wrote. “What a great night to support @LGBTCenterNYC.”
Biden attended the gala dinner as a surprise guest, appearing to attend the annual event with billionaire technology entrepreneur Tim Gill, a spy told Page Six.
“She was never part of the program. She never came on stage to speak,” a source told Us. “They announced she was there and everyone gave her a standing ovation.”
The former first lady ended up staying all night, and reportedly danced center stage as Mel C performed her latest song, “Sweat,” along with Season 18 “RuPaul’s Drag Race” finalists Darlene Mitchell, Mikey Meeks, and Nini Coco.
During the star-studded evening, Biden spoke with other attendees, but at one point, officials said, the Secret Service intervened to let the eager crowd know it was time for Biden to enjoy dinner.
Other VIPs at the gathering included Brooks Brothers CEO Ken Chashi and his husband Adam Fried, former Good Day New York anchor Baruch Shemtov, and CBS News business analyst Jill Schelsinger.
Several people involved with Heat Rivalry were also honored at Thursday night’s gala dinner, including creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady.
Author Rachel Reid, who wrote the “Game Changers” series on which “Rivals” is based, was also in attendance to present Tierney with the center’s Cultural Impact Award.
Starring Hudson Williams (25) as Shane Hollander and Connor Story (26) as Ilya Rozanov, “Rivals” follows two professional hockey rivals as they embark on a secret romance on the ice.
But the characters retreat from the spotlight and escape together to a secluded vacation home in Ontario during the season’s important and tender finale.
The fan-favorite episode was filmed at an authentic lakeside cottage in Muskoka, and fans of the show can currently book a stay at the property through Airbnb for as low as $248.10 CAD ($181 USD) per night.
“Airbnb wanted to lower prices to make it more affordable for more people,” Jayne McCaw, who manages the property, told The New York Times earlier this year.
“This is their two hockey numbers combined,” she added of the C$248.10 rental fee. In “Heated Rivals,” Williams’ Shane wears No. 24 with the Montreal Metros, and Storey’s Ilya wears No. 81 with the Boston Raiders.
Meanwhile, Biden isn’t the only big star to reveal his obsession with a hot hockey love story.
Pedro Pascal and Jon Hamm spoke passionately about Story ahead of their hosting debut on “Saturday Night Live” in February.
Dylan O’Brien also gave some words of encouragement to Francois Arnaud, who plays Scott Hunter on the show, in an interview earlier this year.
