20 Actors Who Refused to Kiss Same-Sex Co-Stars Despite Contract

Actors frequently have personal limits regarding intimate scenes, stemming from things like religious beliefs or simply feeling uncomfortable. These concerns are often discussed before filming begins, during contract negotiations. However, sometimes actors decide after being cast, or after reading the script, that they can’t perform certain scenes. This can result in changes to the script, the use of stand-ins, or, in some cases, an actor leaving the project. The following individuals are known for refusing to do scenes involving same-sex kissing or for leaving roles because of them.

‘Six Degrees of Separation’ (1993)

Will Smith took on a dramatic role as a gay con artist, a big change from his usual comedic performances. The script included a kiss with his co-star, Anthony Michael Hall, but Smith decided against doing the scene right before filming. He later shared that Denzel Washington had advised him that a same-sex kiss could harm his reputation as a leading man. As a result, the director, Fred Schepisi, had to film the scene using a camera angle and a stand-in’s head to create the illusion of a kiss.

‘True Blood’ (2008–2014)

Luke Grimes portrayed James Kent in the sixth season of the HBO vampire series, but he left before season seven. It was reported that Grimes was unhappy with the writers’ plan to explore his character’s bisexuality, including a romantic storyline with Lafayette. His co-star, Nelsan Ellis, later confirmed that Grimes left because he didn’t want to play a gay character or participate in scenes with same-sex intimacy. Nathan Parsons took over the role of James for the show’s final season.

‘The Young and the Restless’ (1973–Present)

Chris Engen, known for playing Adam Newman on a soap opera, left the show in 2009. Reports suggest he quit because he didn’t want to participate in a kissing scene with his male co-star, Yani Gellman, which was planned as part of a new story arc. Engen had also become unhappy with the increasingly dark turn his character was taking, leading to this same-sex romance plot. The show quickly replaced him with Michael Muhney.

Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart famously turned down a part in the 2008 movie ‘Tropic Thunder’ because the character was written as openly gay. Hart later explained he wasn’t comfortable fully committing to the role, especially the more personal scenes, due to his own worries about public perception. He felt he couldn’t authentically play the character and didn’t want to risk a poor performance. The role ultimately went to Brandon T. Jackson.

‘Philadelphia’ (1993)

Tom Hanks won an Oscar for his role as a lawyer with AIDS in a film that was very important for its time. While the movie was about compassion, Hanks didn’t want to film a passionate kiss with his co-star, Antonio Banderas. The director, Jonathan Demme, said Hanks felt uncomfortable with the idea. They ended up filming a more gentle embrace instead, respecting Hanks’s wishes.

‘Dog Day Afternoon’ (1975)

Al Pacino famously played a bank robber who needed money for his partner’s gender-affirming surgery. He refused to film a scene where his character kissed co-star Chris Sarandon, believing it was unnecessary and felt like it exploited their relationship. Pacino felt the audience already understood their connection, and the scene was later changed to a phone call instead.

‘Tyson’ (1995)

Michael Jai White played Mike Tyson in an HBO movie about the boxer’s life. The original script had a scene where Tyson showed affection for his trainer, played by Clark Gregg, with a kiss on the cheek or lips. However, White didn’t want to film this scene, as he was concerned about his public image and felt it was inappropriate. The filmmakers changed the scene to remove the kiss, respecting White’s concerns.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber was considered for a movie called ‘Uber Girl,’ but he asked for a significant change to the script before agreeing to star. The original script included a romantic scene between his character and a male dancer, which Bieber’s team wanted removed. Ultimately, Bieber didn’t appear in the film, and the project had difficulty getting off the ground.

Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson, a singer and actress, faced a problem while filming the movie ‘Undiscovered.’ Her father and manager, Joe Simpson, stepped in and wouldn’t allow a scene where her character kissed another woman. He wanted to maintain her wholesome image, so he asked the filmmakers to change the story and remove the lesbian storyline. They agreed, and the character’s sexual orientation was altered in the final version of the film.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson has openly discussed his limits when it comes to romantic or sexual scenes with men in movies. He’s said that while he’s up for challenging roles, he won’t play a character that requires him to dress as a woman or kiss another man. This preference has affected the kinds of roles he accepts, and he often avoids scripts with those kinds of scenes. There was even talk that the movie ‘Cell’ was altered to remove a romantic relationship present in the original book.

Mark Wahlberg

Ang Lee considered Mark Wahlberg for a leading role in ‘Brokeback Mountain,’ but Wahlberg decided against it after reading the first fifteen pages of the script. He felt uncomfortable with the explicit sexual content and didn’t want to perform those scenes. Wahlberg has since said he doesn’t regret his decision, even though the film went on to win an Academy Award.

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt was considered for a leading role in the film ‘Brokeback Mountain’. Director Gus Van Sant revealed he asked Pitt to play one of the main characters, but Pitt turned it down. Reports suggest he was hesitant due to the film’s sensitive subject matter and the romantic scenes between two men. This made it harder for the filmmakers to find actors for the movie.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio was initially considered for a leading role in ‘Brokeback Mountain’ before Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal were cast. However, like other actors at the time, he decided not to take the part. Producer Diana Ossana revealed that several prominent young actors passed on the project, largely due to concerns about the film’s sensitive subject matter. DiCaprio’s refusal reflected a wider reluctance among leading men in Hollywood at that time.

Matt Damon

Matt Damon turned down the role of Ennis Del Mar in ‘Brokeback Mountain’ because he’d recently starred in both ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ and ‘All the Pretty Horses.’ He worried that taking another role involving either gay themes or the Western genre so soon after would lead to him being typecast. While he later expressed regret about not working with the director, he felt his decision was right for his career at the time.

Ryan Phillippe

Ryan Phillippe was considered for the movie based on Annie Proulx’s short story, but he ultimately turned it down. This hesitation, shared by other actors at the time, showed how difficult it was for leading men to take on gay roles in Hollywood during the early 2000s. Eventually, the part went to actors who were willing to tackle the sensitive subject matter.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy, the famous comedian, considered playing Little Richard in a movie about his life, but he had limits. He publicly stated he wouldn’t film any scenes showing homosexual acts or kissing between men. While Murphy respected Little Richard, he felt uncomfortable portraying those parts of the musician’s life, which ultimately stopped him from taking on the role.

Kirk Cameron

Kirk Cameron, the actor best known for ‘Growing Pains,’ became a devout Christian and decided he would no longer kiss anyone on screen except his wife, Chelsea Noble. This rule applies to all roles, even if it means avoiding intimate scenes with both female and male co-stars. To work around this, some of his films, like ‘Fireproof,’ used his wife as a stand-in for kissing scenes, filming her only in silhouette.

Neal McDonough

Neal McDonough is an actor who consistently avoids kissing scenes in his work because of his strong religious beliefs and commitment to his wife. He was once let go from the show ‘Scoundrels’ for not wanting to film intimate romantic moments. He makes sure every contract includes this rule, meaning he won’t kiss any co-star, regardless of their gender.

Candace Cameron Bure

Like her brother Kirk Cameron, Candace Cameron Bure is known for having firm limits on how much physical intimacy she portrays in her movies. She’s said she won’t do kissing scenes she feels are inappropriate or would show disrespect to her husband. Though she often appears in romantic films, she keeps physical contact to a minimum. Her contracts also specifically prevent her from being involved in any scenes with same-sex intimacy.

Denzel Washington

Although Denzel Washington hasn’t portrayed a gay character on screen, he significantly influenced decisions to avoid same-sex intimacy in films. He famously cautioned Will Smith against kissing a man in ‘Six Degrees of Separation,’ fearing it would damage his career. Washington himself declined to kiss Julia Roberts in ‘The Pelican Brief,’ concerned about losing his core audience. His strong influence and desire to maintain a certain on-screen persona have affected how filmmakers approach intimate scenes, both in his own work and in the films of his colleagues.

Tell us in the comments which of these casting decisions surprised you the most.

2025-12-09 00:21