On the heels of Valentine’s Day, there is an interesting report about Penn Badgley taking a stand against too many sex scenes in his smash hit Netflix show You.
The fourth season of the captivating stalker series just dropped on the leading streamer, and fans have noticed less steam filling their TV screens. It turns out that is by design, thanks to Badgley and allegiance to his nuptials with singer Domino Kirke. On his podcast “Podcrushed,” he revealed that he approached You showrunner Sera Gamble before taping began on season four.
This is actually a decision I made before I took the show. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it publicly. But one of the main things is like, do I want to put myself back in a career path where I’m just always a romantic lead?”
Penn Badgley, “Podcrushed,” Feb. 2023
Badgley’s marriage to Kirke is well known in entertainment circles. This famous folk marriage seems to be the next on the list of ones that last in Hollywood, next to Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Pauletta Pearson and Denzel Washington, or Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. Also, because Kirke’s name rings a bell, it should.
Her sisters are respected in their own industries. Jemina Kirke played “Jessa” in HBO’s Girls. Lola Kirke is “Greta” that surprise villainess in Gone Girl. And their dad, who gave Domino the musician bug, is Simon Kirke, the notable drummer for Free and Bad Company. And if you don’t recall her band, DOMINO, then you may know about her side hustle as a doula!
Penn Badgley does not have eyes for You
(See what we did there? You’re welcome.)
Badgley notes that asking for all sex scenes to be removed from You might be “an impossible ask” but the number of tawdry times has been reduced significantly. To wit, he was glowing with his thoughts about his boss sharing Gamble gave a “really positive response” and provided Badgley—and his betrothed—a “phenomenal reduction” of those scenes in the script.
“My fidelity in my relationship. It’s important to me. And actually, it was one of the reasons that I initially wanted to turn the role down. I didn’t tell anybody that. But that is why.”
Penn Badgley, “Podcrushed,” Feb. 2023
His role as the furtive follower, and part-time murderer, Joe Goldberg has placed Penn Badgley on an A-List. Although he’s avoided responding to the rumors, he has nothing to deny thoughts of Marvel recruiting him the MCU version of Reed Richards.
Netflix has released the first half of Season 4 for You. The second half will be released on March 9.
