When Jack McPhee first showed up in ‘Dawson’s Creek‘, no one, not even Kerr Smith himself, imagined how much his story would storm the world. Although it began as another high school subplot, it soon evolved into one of the boldest moves in teen drama history.
Years later, Smith is revisiting that defining moment, revealing how one groundbreaking scene not only changed television but also sparked outrage that he’ll never forget.
Kerr Smith Revisits The ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Moment That Ignited Massive Rage
By the time Kerr Smith joined ‘Dawson’s Creek‘ in its second season, the series had already built a reputation for tackling teenage emotions with unusual candor. But Smith’s journey as Jack McPhee took an unexpected turn when creator Kevin Williamson invited him for coffee and revealed that his character would come out as gay.
Related: Is ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Reboot Happening? Katie Holmes Shares Update
The actor admitted he was “very, very scared” after hearing the news, unsure of how audiences or the industry would react in 1998. He asked Williamson for a couple of days to think about it, during which time he spent calling people he respected to discuss whether he should go through with the role.
Back then, playing a gay character on prime-time television was considered a major gamble. “It was a tough one,” he recalled, reflecting on the fear and uncertainty that surrounded such a storyline at the time. Still, Smith decided to stay the course. He chose to portray Jack’s emotional and complex journey authentically.
The Aftermath Of The Infamous Kiss On TV
In the 2000 episode “True Love,” Jack shared a kiss with Ethan. It was the first one between two men on network television. It was a powerful scene that shattered a long-standing taboo and changed how LGBTQ+ representation appeared on screen. But not everyone celebrated it. Speaking on the ‘Pod Meets World‘ podcast, Smith recalled the chaos that followed. He said protests erupted outside the studio, with angry crowds yelling just beyond the brick wall where he was quietly eating his lunch.
In case you missed it: Top 20 Most Iconic And Influential LGBTQ Characters In The History Of TV Shows
“If I had walked out there, they’d probably beat the crap out of me,” he remembered. Things went so out of hand that they caught national attention and triggered condemnation from conservative groups. It received hostile stares from the Family Research Council, as in Thea Glassman’s 2023 book, ‘Freaks, Geeks, and Dawson’s Creek‘. Yet amid the outrage, the episode turned out to be a turning point in television history.
Looking back now, Smith said he feels immense pride in what they accomplished. He noted that the risk they took reshaped TV’s understanding of love and acceptance. It eventually contributed to the broader cultural shift toward inclusivity that’s now taken for granted. After the storm passed, Smith remained a part of ‘Dawson’s Creek‘ through its final season in 2003. Soon, it became one of the show’s most beloved and complex characters.
Since then, Smith has continued building a steady career with roles in ‘Riverdale‘, ‘The Resident, and The Fosters’. Now, he’s channeling those experiences into his upcoming book, ‘I Don’t Want to Wait: My Journey on Dawson’s Creek Without a Paddle‘. There, he plans to share more about his time on set and the cultural shift it helped inspire.
