Jameela Jamil, a prominent activist and actress, recently applauded actor Penn Badgley for his decision to refuse sex scenes in his work. Badgley, known for his role as Joe Goldberg in the Netflix series “You,” made the announcement during a virtual panel discussion about his career.
During the discussion, Badgley stated that he has made a personal decision not to engage in sex scenes as an actor. He explained that he believes the entertainment industry often uses sex scenes gratuitously, and that they can be exploitative for both actors and viewers.
Jameela Jamil took to social media to share her support for Badgley’s decision, tweeting “More actors need to follow Penn Badgley’s lead and have a choice over whether or not they do nude/sex scenes in their projects. The amount of people I know who have been coerced into these uncomfortable situations is upsetting and unacceptable.”
Jamil, a vocal advocate for body positivity and the #MeToo movement, has been open about her own experiences with body shaming and sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. She has been an outspoken critic of the use of sex scenes in film and television, arguing that they often perpetuate harmful stereotypes and contribute to a culture of objectification.
Badgley’s decision to refuse sex scenes is part of a larger conversation in the entertainment industry about the use of such scenes in film and television. Some actors and directors have argued that they are necessary for storytelling, while others, like Badgley, believe that they can be exploitative and unnecessary.
Regardless of one’s stance on the issue, it is clear that the conversation about sex scenes in entertainment is far from over. Jameela Jamil’s support of Penn Badgley’s decision highlights the importance of actors having agency over their own bodies and the stories they choose to tell on screen.