‘You’ is one of the most popular thriller series on Netflix. Starring Penn Badgley of ‘Gossip Girl’ fame in the lead role, the show is quite twisted and can make anyone uneasy. It is replete with dark twists and turns and quite gory scenes.
But, you’d be shocked to know the advice that Badgley – who plays an obsessive stalker named Joe on the show – receives every season from ‘You’ directors about his masturbation scenes. The actor himself is quite bewildered about it.
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Penn Badgley Was Asked To Be “Less Creepy” During Masturbation Scenes
Penn Badgley’s character Joe has many questionable characteristics. He can go to any lengths once he is obsessed with someone. In his own delusional world, all is fair in “love”, even if it makes his object of passion a target. Leaving all these dark storylines aside, the scenes that the directors of ‘You’ asked the actor to make “less creepy” were his masturbation scenes. No, we are not kidding!
During his ‘Podcrushed’ podcast, the actor told his co-hosts Sophie Ansari and Nava Kavelin and guest Chace Crawford, “Every time I’ve done a masturbation scene – which is so far every season at least once – I’ve always gotten the note to make it less creepy.”
Badgley further explained, “They say like, ‘Close your eyes or go faster or go slower.’ I’m like, ‘What? This man is f***ing murdering people, and he’s masturbating in the street. You’re saying I’m making it creepy? How is it I’m the one making it creepy.’ I just remember I wouldn’t close my eyes and the director came up to me. He was like ‘Buddy, I think you gotta close your eyes.'”
What was the ‘You’ actor’s reaction to the advice? Badgley said he would instantly question why because he feels his character Joe is a creep all the time and that’s actually “the f***ing point.” But, when directors say something, actors usually have to comply.
“That’s just the strange line that we’re always walking on our show, and I suppose many of us are, like examining toxicity in sexual culture while also trying to be sexy,” Badgely added.
What To Expect From ‘You’ Season 4?
After all the ups and downs and a “killer” finale with Love in ‘You’ season 3, the new city where Joe will resume his obsessive ways and murderous antics will be London. The previous season ended with Joe faking his death. He was last seen working at a restaurant in Paris.
Tati Gabrielle is reprising the role of Marienne, Charlotte Ritchie, who essays the character Kate will become the new female lead, and Lukas Gage will play Adam. But, you can expect to see plenty of new faces too. The list includes Dario Coates, Eve Austin, and Tilly Keeper.
About Season 4, Penn Badgely told ET, “The tone is similar but it’s shifting in that there is a different format. It’s almost like we are shifting the genre slightly. And I think it works.”
Would he find stability in London? The actor thinks the problem is with Joe’s personality more than his area of operation. “But the problem is in him. He’s always trying – failing trying,” he shared.
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