Dustin Gandof
Jameela Jamil and Penn Badgley on Sex Scenes in You
Jameela Jamil Skips ‘You’ Audition Over Sex Scenes
Jameela Jamil, a British actress, model and radio presenter, revealed in an interview with Angela Scanlon on her podcast, Thanks a Million, that she had decided to skip her audition for the hit Netflix thriller ‘You’ because of its explicit sexual content, despite the fact that she was supposed to co-star with Penn Badgley in the latest season of the show.
Jamil cited a personal reason for skipping the audition, saying that she didn’t feel comfortable with the show’s graphic sex scenes and therefore couldn’t be a part of the project. She said, “I said, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I can’t do it.’ Literally, contractual obligations and all of that aside, I couldn’t do it…I’m not being sanctimonious, but it would have really affected my mental health.”
Penn Badgley’s Request for Fewer Sex Scenes in You
Recently, lead actor Penn Badgley, who portrays the sociopathic Joe Goldberg, cited his discomfort with graphic sex scenes in the show during an interview with Vanity Fair. He revealed that he had requested that the creators and producers of ‘You’ tone down the graphic scenes in the show, owing to a personal preference.
Badgley stated that he wanted the show to focus on the emotional and psychological aspects of Joe’s relationship with his victims instead of resorting to sensationalism. His stance on the issue has since been widely applauded by many viewers and critics alike, who agree that graphic sex scenes in shows like ‘You’ are often gratuitous and unnecessary.
The Importance of Consent and Comfort
The conversation around sexual content in entertainment has been going on for a long time. While some believe that it enhances the storyline and makes it more realistic, others argue that it’s unnecessary and often exploitative.
At its core, however, the issue comes down to consent and comfort. Actors and actresses should never be forced to perform scenes that they are not comfortable with, and their wishes and opinions should always be taken into account. It’s heartening to see performers like Jameela Jamil and Penn Badgley speaking up about what they are and aren’t comfortable with, and it’s even more encouraging to see creators listening and acting on those concerns.
The entertainment industry needs to create a safer, more empathetic environment for its performers where their well-being is prioritized. Issues around consent and comfort on set should be taken seriously, and the industry as a whole should do better in protecting its performers.
