Penn Badgley, the star of the hit Netflix series “You,” recently made headlines for his request to reduce his on-screen sex scenes. Badgley, who portrays the show’s protagonist and sometimes villain, Joe Goldberg, spoke candidly about his decision in a recent interview with the podcast Podcrushed.
Penn Badgley’s Views on Sex Scenes in TV and Film
The upcoming fourth season of “You” will see Joe relocate to London, where he finds himself in a new romantic relationship and entangled in a web of intrigue involving the city’s wealthy elite. For Badgley, the decision to reduce his character’s sex scenes was a personal one. He explained to Podcrushed, “I asked Sera, ‘Can I just not do this anymore?'” He went on to reveal that this decision was made even before he accepted the role of Joe.
“I didn’t want to put myself in a professional position where I was always playing someone’s romantic partner,” Badgley said. “Fidelity is very important to me in all relationships. It came to a point where I didn’t want to do it anymore.”
But Badgley’s request wasn’t just about his personal values. He also revealed that he was concerned about how filming sex scenes could potentially impact his marriage to singer Domino Kirke. “It’s not that I don’t like doing sex scenes,” he said. “It’s just that I don’t want to create any kind of dynamic between me and my wife where she feels like I’m doing this intimate thing with somebody else. That’s just not worth it.”
It’s worth noting that “You” has been criticized in the past for its portrayal of sex and relationships. Some viewers have argued that the show romanticizes Joe’s behavior, including his stalking and obsession with his partners. Badgley himself has spoken out about these criticisms, saying in a 2019 interview with The Los Angeles Times, “I’m certainly not interested in playing a guy who’s evil, but I’m also not interested in playing a guy who’s misunderstood or romanticized.”
The Future of “You”
It’s clear that Badgley takes his role in “You” seriously, both as an actor and as a person. His decision to reduce his sex scenes is a testament to his commitment to his personal values and his marriage. As for the future of “You,” it remains to be seen how this change will impact the show. But with Badgley at the helm, viewers can be sure that they’re in for a compelling and thought-provoking ride.
