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Jill Biden bids $35K for 'Heated Rivalry' walk-on at NYC LGBTQ benefit
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Apr 17, 2026
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(Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Apr 17, 2026
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Jill Biden might be a hockey fan — or at least a fan of a certain hockey-themed TV show.
An LGBTQ benefit in New York City received a $35,000 bid from the former first lady after it auctioned off a walk-on role in the next season of the popular hockey romance, “Heated Rivalry.”
Biden — who was outbid — was a surprise guest at the NYC LGBT Center’s annual fundraising gala, which took place at Cipriani Wall Street on Thursday evening. Center Dinner is the NYC-based organization’s signature event, with funds going toward a host of causes including HIV prevention and testing, mental health and youth programming and arts and cultural programming.
Biden was outbid by two other attendees, who each donated $125,000 for a total of $250,000, according to organization CEO Carla Smith. Altogether, the event raised more than $2 million.
“It’s one of the highest that we’ve ever had,” she said. “It is a very big number, we are very pleased with it and it is definitely going to go a long way.”
Smith said Biden was a “short notice” addition who had been invited by someone else attending the event.
“Heated Rivalry” TV show creator Jacob Tierney, Executive Producer Brendan Brady and Rachel Reid, who wrote the book series on which the show is based, were featured attendees at the event.
Other items up for auction included tickets to a “Saturday Night Live” dress rehearsal and a seven-night stay in Costa Rica.
Of course, the highest selling items were other "Heated Rivalry"-themed prizes.
Tagged
LGBTQ
Politics
new york city
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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