‘You’ Star Penn Badgley Wanted No More Intimacy Scenes On His Netflix Show, So The Creator Said Fine

This has happened with other cable and streaming shows. The creators insist on lots of sex the first season to get people watching, but if it becomes a genuine hit, the star can talk them into taking out the sex. Often the creators want to take it out anyway because intimacy scenes make many actors uncomfortable.

They did something similar with "Game of Thrones" and that woman who played Khaleesi, IIRC.

"“Fidelity in every relationship, including my marriage, is important to me,” continues Badgley. “It’s got to the point where I don’t want to do that. "

What a fucking weirdo. Is Penn a God-botherer? This is Kirk Cameron-level stuff. Maybe his wife can play opposite him in the love scenes, like Kirkles.

Datalounge rolled its eyes when Neil McDonough took the same stance.

I'm sorry but if you're an actor and the script demands an intimate scene, then do your fucking job.

It’s a shame he never showed anything of note.

Is he at least still doing shirtless scenes? His tight hairy chest was one of the brightest spots of the first three seasons.

Meanwhile, unimportant actors are pressured to do more sex/nudity they didn’t sign up for.

Hollywood supposed to be very progressive in its sexual Imagery but it seems the actors and the studio is actually conservative when it comes to sex and sexuality in general. European entertainment is more progressive if you want to see actual skin.

No one wants to see that creepy replicant McDonough in nude scenes

Well that's one way to end your career.

Penn Badgley being considered a "Star" is the problem.

Penn should compensate for his abilities by showing his cock and ass!

R2 I hope Penn never has to deal with the casting couch then.

Amazed there's a show Netflix stay running for this long. He should shut up and ride the paycheck while it lasts, he's never going to have a movie career

Netflix should let me guest star and give him one for the road.

He doesn't want to do sex scenes because he is married? Fucking Christ, a lot of actors are married and they still do their job.

This is pathetic.

Is he aware that he’s not actually having sex when he’s acting out a scene?

It is weird for an actor to ask but in this situation it is kinda creepy when his stalker character does have sex imo. I'm fine with just the implication, especially as he follows the librarian to France.

R15 Kellan Lutz said that he and his wife wouldn't do nudity on love scenes in their work as their bodies are for their eyes only. Lol, does he think he's cast for his thespian skills?

Interesting, because I didn't want any more of You after season 1, when it was clear Penn wasn't getting naked.

Know your place, man! You won't be a desirable piece of ass forever.

Intimacy scenes were already difficult, now they are even more difficult.

Probably not now r18 but he's already done it.

Yea R21 that's his previous gift to nudity, one very brief glimpse of his fartbox. The man is entirely selfish.

The upside of Penn's trend: "intimacy coordinators" will go back to being psychology graduate students.

He seems like a real sourpuss. He only has nasty things to say about Gossip Girl and now this new show. Maybe acting isn’t the best career choice for this incredibly average-looking white heterosexual man.

He sounds...exhausting.

[Quote] He only has nasty things to say about Gossip Girl and now this new show.

He had to work with Blake Lively and was supposedly fucking Kelly Rutherford so it's understandable.

Yeah, Kellan Lutz has only done the one brief nude scene of his ass in 'Java Heat' (2013). He identifies as a Christian, so that may have something to do with it.

As for Penn Badgley, he hasn't even shown his ass once, so what is he complaining about?

He's very angular.

Penn Badgely is beautiful.

Present hole.

No nude scenes in You or the Magic Mike sequel?

Seriously, why do these people think these projects exist?

For rabid followers of the Humanitas prize?

Maybe he got caught cheating and is trying to save his marriage.

R2 he’s a Baha’i and that’s its own special crazy

Bahai's principles are strikingly liberal, considering they date from the Victorian era and have not been updated since, promoting racial and gender equality, redistribution of wealth, universal democracy and education for all. But alcohol and drugs are banned. And like other religions it struggles with modern attitudes to sexuality. Physical intimacy (including kissing) before marriage, active homosexuality and adultery are all banned.

He follows the Baha'i religion, a highly mystical Eastern religion. That's likely why he's opposing doing any sex scenes. They take marriage very seriously. Idk I can't hate on someone who demands this. Yeah he's hot and I'd like to see him nude but he has the right to not want to do that. Besides, not every single TV show or movie needs sex scenes, leave stuff to the imagination. Porn exists for a reason.

I would like to have lots of intimacy with Penn.

Being a working actor is not a right it's a privilege r35. If he doesn't want to do the job he should find a new career and they need to cast someone who isn't being so hard to work with.

It's not about getting naked, he doesn't want to be intimate with another person? That's pretty crucial for story telling.

r37 it's the problem with streaming shows.. in that few are ever going to be extended multiple years, thus the performers end up with more power than they should have if it's successful. . .

If he were a real actor, he would do nudity that is integral to the plot.

People keep talking about nudity when his interview was not about nudity at all.

What he says is wanting to be faithful to his wife and not physically engaging with another person.

His character fucks this one chick twice in the new season. Quick scenes though, and fully clothed.

Fully clothed? Appropriate for the London setting, since that's what Brits do.

Honestly this seems like an admission of his own lack of self control r32.

If I have sex scenes with these girls I know I will end up fucking them for real, I need to remove temptation.

He clearly needs me to help him stretch as an actor.

R37 He could just quit the role and opt for roles that are asexual I guess. Keanu Reeves plays a lot of roles that are kinda asexual.

Weird how older films didn't need gratuitous sex scenes to signal intimacy and it worked out fine. Why are people acting like it's so necessary? Sex scenes are awkward for most actors. It's a good thing many are opting out. Yes they have a job but workers have rights and work environments should feel safe for everyone. Unless it's absolutely crucial to the story plot, just a gaze, kiss and a fade to black is sufficient.

R47 I think it's more Hollywood directors are perverts who get off on humiliating their cast and selling sex to audiences. It's about money and it becomes dehumanizing. I find Europeans see sex and nudity very differently, in a more naturalistic and romantic way. Americans commodify sex to the extreme and actors are seen as pieces of meat. The capitalization of sex in America and pornographication of mass media is why many people are vigilant about it. It's not "prudishness."

The amount of sex and nudity in European productions is way higher. You are literally just making up your own narrative to justify why it's fine for Europe but not okay in America. Particularly when American productions use intimacy coordinators so the set is even safer than it is in European productions.

Frankly this is part of a prudishness when it comes to sex. Movies now have less sex than they did in the 90s. And it's also true that younger generations are having less sex than people used to.

I think Henry Cavill and Jacob Elordi did the same for “The Witcher” and “Euphoria”. Henry doesn’t even want to do shirtless scenes.

Millennials aren't clever enough to add two and two

R47 I’ve heard this argument before. Europe is full of sex and nudity and prostitution and exploitation. It’s not like there’s no porn in Europe.

America is simply uptight.

R46 Only because they were banned from doing it.

I always feel embarrassed for actors doing kissing or sex scenes and find them hard to watch. If I want to watch sex, I’ll watch porn. I’d rather just do it myself actually.

Then you have issues and should see a therapist, r53

Seriously r54, that says more about you that seeing two people be intimate and affectionate together which should be a beautiful thing makes you uncomfortable r53.

He doesn't care about the fidelity of his relationship. He married into a wealthy family and can afford to never have to work again. And if he does work, he can afford to turn down roles that require nudity and sex scenes.

He has problems with intimacy scenes but no concerns about playing a serial killer and the violent scenes associated with that?

Good for Penn! Great to see actors with high morals and values. He’s a role model. 👏🏾

R57, actors aren’t actors killing people in their scenes. Actors actually are kissing and touching people who aren’t their spouse; it’s actual infidelity

Just like the posters on this thread that have no problems with horrific violence being depicted on screen but draw the line at seeing humans expressing their affection r57.

R43 really twisted this to fit his agenda and values

No hon, it's not "actual infidelity", it's called doing your job. You get the script and you act it out. Even my little nephew can differentiate between playing pretend and real life. Why can't you?

Badgley has always been off-putting. He has a superior, aloof demeanor on talk shows, and he always gave off some kind of weird religious vibe. And boy what a bore of an actor.

He fucks the neighbor - the partner of the dead professor - early in season 4, doesn't he? I guess it's more implied than shown.

Season 4 kinda sucks. I see what they're trying to do, but it's not hitting like the other seasons. That said, even after season 3, I thought that it had run its course, not that season 3 was terrible or anything. It's a tough show to keep going because part of the fun early on was the pure novelty and seeing how far Joe would go. Now we know he'll do basically anything.

Intimacy scenarios are important to You, but actual explicit sex scenes really aren't. I know there has been quite a few, but none of them were really memorable.

"Being a working actor is not a right it's a privilege [R35]. If he doesn't want to do the job he should find a new career and they need to cast someone who isn't being so hard to work with."

True, but if the actor wants to ask or demand and see what happens, that's their right. Seems like the people involved with You listened in this instance.

My message to Penn Badgley:

MARY!

What choice do they have r66? In the current climate it would look terrible if they ignored his request. Then he can cry to the media about how they forced him into sexual situations he begged them not to and he felt so violated. Imagine the headlines.

I don’t get this at all. It’s acting. It’s not real. Actors always talk about cold & clinical these scenes are to film, that it’s always a bit awkward & the exact opposite of romantic or sexy. They aren’t naked, everything is taped & covered.

I mean, each to their own, it’s his career but he’s essentially saying all other actors are cheating on their other halves if they do intimate scenes. Which is complete bullshit.

I recon his wife is a jealous type 😉

Absolutely r47. Most people also don't enjoy sex scenes in movies and TV. They are a huge turnoff.

Bullshit. We love sex scenes.

The "current climate" is as much a part of the workplace as anything else. He made his demand and they met it. If they felt pressure to do so, so be it. But in this case he's the star of an established show. I'd imagine that he won't automatically get as much traction in the future with new projects. All I'm saying is that for actors who care about sex scenes, it's can be a point of negotiation - and the result will depend on how much each side is dug into its position.

Listen to Marys R47/R70!

I wish he’d come to me with that shit. I’d put a five minute graphic love scene in every episode, with his hairy ass crack on full display. He’d do more fucking and sucking the next season than he has in his entire life. I’d make his character bi and put some gay sex scenes in there for him, too—actually I would’ve done that regardless.

it is work, though. People who work for tips are extra friendly to customers and clients, that doesn't make them cheaters. A trainer who touches his clients doesn't cheat on his spouse. Spouses of policemen and firefighters live with the fear that their husband may die while being on duty. Marrying an actor comes with its challenges, too. And, to me, that includes making out with a scene partner.

If you don't want to do (part of) your job due to deeply held religious beliefs ... yikes.

You can also bet he's a Repug.

I guess I spoke too soon, if his Wiki page is accurate. Definitely not a Repug. So I guess he's just a tight-ass religious nut.

Speak for yourself R70. I very much enjoy them! I’m British but I grew up in Sweden and still go back & forth through the year. Sex is & has always been very much just a normal part of life. I enjoy reading it in books, watching it on TV & having it in real life. I love watching or reading about intimacy, it’s a lovely part of life.

Will he accept over the sweater petting?

I applaud him for placing his convictions above money

Oh, shut up, R80--he isn't losing any money. He never was.

Has Kellan Lutz dealt with or resolved his "fetish"?

Years ago Penn had said that after he was finished with The Slap that he wouldn't do TV again.

R48 I've been busy - you like Mark II?

I wanted to check out his show on Netflix but his uptight views about sex scenes kind of ruined it for me. So I decided to not watch his show. I prefer watching European shows on Netflix since they are more fun and less uptight. America is still a very prudish country. Violence is ok but sexual images still makes people feel uncomfortable.

Deal with it r84

R85 I am dealing with it but the problem is that asexual weirdos like you ruin it for everyone else.

Then go cry about it

These first five episodes were a 'chore' to watch. The next five air in another month, and supposedly that's the end of the series (PB signed on for four seasons, and said he won't be doing a S5).

It's amazing to me that shit show is on season 4. I quite after the first season.

*quit

[QUOTE] The next five air in another month, and supposedly that's the end of the series (PB signed on for four seasons, and said he won't be doing a S5).

Penn Badgley is off to bigger and better things.

R91=Penn Badgley

Give me the “dead” YOU 4 actor with the nice cock and the Prince Albert…actually, Penn could do that without being “unfaithful”.

Penn Badgley is an alpha, macho man and what he says GOES.

They need to sex up this boring ass show so they should have fired his ass.

[quote]Apparently, that's all it takes.

It's called "consent," Rapey.

It must be his wife complaining.

American movies are so oddly sexless now. They’ve always been regressive compared to European films (again, both men and women there do not regard nudity as something inherently degrading). All those trashy 90s erotic thrillers were produced by major studios, that’s something that’ll never happen again.

I don't have a problem with sex scenes because of prudishness, but I do find that it takes me out of the story, because I start thinking about the actors, how they filmed the scene, whether it was awkward, etc.

Eroticism has nothing to do with sex scenes...the sexiest moments can be conveyed with just a look. This is the sexiest scene in cinema IMHO. Just 2 great fully-clothed actors and a whole lot of sexual tension.

link

If I was the lucky frau what scored Penn Badgley, I wouldn't let anyone else touch his hairy treasures either!

[QUOTE] Eroticism has nothing to do with sex scenes...the sexiest moments can be conveyed with just a look.

A fast dame in lipstick showing too much leg isn’t enough today, gramps. And I wanted Badgley’s fucking hairy chest and ass crack on my TV screen while I can get it. After this is over, he’ll be nothing more than a pop trivia question.

Yes, that was the era of the Hays Code where art was censored to fit into some predefined "morality code" r99.

The way some people are talking they want a return moral crusaders censoring movies.

His wife is the sister of the "wild"/free spirit chick from Girls who's just annoying.

Yes, directors had to get creative to get around the restrictions of the Hays code. Nowadays sex scenes in movies are about as erotic as porn. I can't remember the last thing I saw that really seemed hot.

He sounds insecure and desperate to please his wife in a failing relationship. Plenty of couples have survived through their partners acting out sex scenes on screen. It's a job.

Puritan thinking coming back is such a bummer.

Yeah, this is puritan at its worse. Kissing someone in a movie or play is not betraying, unless you are extremely dumb. It is acting. Maybe he should change his profession. I grant that he is cute, but this sort of moralizing his bad. Also, he is also dissing his fellow actor who by kissing and having simulated sex on screen are, if married or in a relationship, betraying their partners.

[quote]Give me the “dead” YOU 4 actor with the nice cock and the Prince Albert…actually, Penn could do that without being “unfaithful”.

Notice they never showed the actor himself when they uncovered his cock ? We never saw him from a distant where we saw his face and whole body. Just a close-up on his pelvic area. Tells me that was a fake cock in the shot.

[Quote] I think Henry Cavill and Jacob Elordi did the same for “The Witcher” and “Euphoria”. Henry doesn’t even want to do shirtless scenes.

Which is hilarious because Henry doesn't have the talent to justify those types of demands. Who does he think he’s fooling 🤣

[quote] Plenty of couples have survived through their partners acting out sex scenes on screen.

Yeah no problem

Oh, Joe, you psycho. We want the s.e.x.

[Quote] I think it's more Hollywood directors are perverts who get off on humiliating their cast and selling sex to audiences. It's about money and it becomes dehumanizing.

Ironically, Penn plays the younger version of the main character in the Gay film THE FLUFFER. It's hinted that he may or me not have been molested by his neighbor.

Even more strange the guy that plays the GFP pron star ended up becoming a producer on Duck Dynasty

"Notice they never showed the actor himself when they uncovered his cock ? We never saw him from a distant where we saw his face and whole body. Just a close-up on his pelvic area. Tells me that was a fake cock in the shot. "

I assumed it was as fake or a cock double.

You will almost never see actual genitals in a standard sex scene, and if you do it won't be during "the act." These scenes are choreographed, people on Twitter seem to think a director just tells two actors to rapidly dry hump each other however they feel like it.

A few months ago we had a thread complaining that sex scenes were too choreographed now because of wokeified "intimacy co-ordinators".

Hell, even a HALF CENTURY ago a large number of major actors were naked, or partially so, in major films.

And in the oddest places, too: like 50 year-old Margaret Leighton in a see-through blouse in X, Y, and ZEE (this awful Liz Taylor flick is on Amazon Prime now).

Anglo-American showbiz got frightened of, or squeamish about, nudity again.

I learned about "intimacy coordinators" from an episode of High Maintenance - a pretty good episode from what I remember.

“Cover all the piano’s legs, Plunge Badley is coming on the set”

What fetish r82?

The more I read about Penn, the less I like him.

R120 socks allegedly.

Missing Kellan’s smoking hot body .

Penn, come join Great American Family! Christmas movies all year round, no sex and no gays! Call me!

Thanks r122/r82.

Is that show even critically acclaimed!? Damn right not to be exploited for a lame show.

"Is that show even critically acclaimed!? Damn right not to be exploited for a lame show."

I think it's done fairly well on Netflix; it's fairly "popular." But, no, I don't think there's much acclaim. Flip side, I've never seen it ripped to shreds. It's just middling Netflix fare. Haven't seen the reviews for this season, which IMO is by far the worst.