The controversy dates back to February 2023, when Penn Badgley revealed on a viral episode of his podcast, "Podcrushed," that he had approached "You" showrunner Sera Gamble ahead of Season 4 production to inform her that he was no longer interested in filming intimate scenes on camera. Later that same month, the actor elaborated during an interview with Variety, explaining that avoiding sex scenes was important to maintain personal boundaries and fidelity in his marriage.
However, the actor’s candid remarks sparked an unexpected wave of social media backlash directed squarely at his wife. Despite the fact that Penn had previously credited Domino with encouraging him to accept the lusty, complex lead role of the serial-killer stalker Joe Goldberg in "You" in the first place, internet trolls were quick to accuse her of forcing her husband to pull back from intimacy on screen, painting her as a jealous partner exercising control over his career choices.
Now, years later, Domino Kirke-Badgley is firmly shutting down those persistent rumors in a candid Instagram post and video message.
"A few years ago, the internet decided I’d asked my husband to stop doing sex scenes. The truth is, my husband decided to do this for mental health reasons," Kirke-Badgley wrote online. She went on to highlight the grueling nature of growing up in the entertainment spotlight, noting that Penn has been working in the industry since he was just 12 years old. "Believe me, it was time. In the entertainment world, they call actors ‘puppets’ behind their backs, and it’s even more disturbing when they start out as child actors… after years of trying, Penn decided to take a stand and let the world see him. And guess what, he hasn’t lost fans and he’s still getting hired!"
Reflecting further on the cultural baggage attached to her husband’s career, she added in her video post, "The characters that my husband has played over the years, people have come to expect that he will continue to play that guy. I was super happy for him and very proud of him because I understood how major it was, and yeah… it’s just relational hygiene."
Penn Badgley and Domino Kirke-Badgley have been married since 2017. Paradoxically, it was Domino who initially encouraged him to take on the role of Joe Goldberg in Netflix’s hit psychological thriller "You," despite knowing the character’s narrative arc would require him to film various intimate and provocative scenes.
When the actor ultimately decided to draw a hard line ahead of the fourth season, it stemmed from a deep-seated discomfort with Hollywood’s traditional handling of physical intimacy. Speaking to Variety in 2023, Badgley opened up about his long-standing reservations regarding that aspect of the profession.
"There’s almost nothing I could say with more consecration. That aspect of Hollywood has always been very disturbing to me—and that aspect of the job, that mercurial boundary—has always been something that I actually don’t want to play with at all," Badgley said at the time. He detailed how he approached Sera Gamble with his request before production commenced on Season 4, noting that she was immediately receptive and accommodating.
"I told [Sera Gamble before Season 4] kind of my desire, and she immediately was accepting and responsive. I’m always very practical. I said I know it can’t be none, because there’s something coded into the DNA of the show, and I signed the contract, and so it is what it is, but as little as possible would be my preference," he explained.
As a direct result of Badgley’s request, Season 4 of "You" featured significantly fewer sex scenes, and all of them were performed fully clothed. While the creative adjustment was successfully woven into the show’s narrative, the actor’s public transparency regarding his decision elicited a deeply polarizing response across the internet.
Detractors quickly criticized Badgley for seemingly equating fictional television sex scenes with real-life infidelity, with many pointing out that the modern entertainment industry heavily relies on intimacy coordinators to ensure safety and comfort during the filming of sensitive material. The discourse grew loud enough that Badgley later addressed the fallout in an interview with GQ, clarifying that his initial comments had been "blown out of proportion."
"What I was speaking about wasn’t actually the final product," Badgley told GQ. "It was sort of like the culture inherent to the production of all movies, but particularly those scenes. It’s like, look, we know that Hollywood has had a history of flagrant exploitation and abuse."
The actor also admitted that he had been anxious about having that career-altering conversation with production leadership, though he praised Gamble for making the process easier than anticipated. "It was not easy. It was easy because of Sera’s response, and I felt relieved. But technically speaking, if I thought I’d had the ability to set that boundary earlier, I would have. We shall see if setting that boundary, of course, has any ramifications. Just simply, it does limit the number of projects you can be a part of."
Despite initial concerns regarding how setting such a boundary might impact his career trajectory, Badgley continues to secure prominent acting roles. Looking ahead, the actor is set to star in the upcoming romantic comedy "You Deserve Each Other," where he will share the screen with co-star Meghann Fahy.
