Some actors are just TOO good at their jobs, eh? Such is the case with Eric Stonestreet, who plays Cam on Modern Family. The way he plays Cam is so convincing that we think you might be surprised that he is indeed straight! As one of the first shows to air an LGBTQ couple on primetime television, our hats are off to the show’s producers! In the first season, there wasn’t any tension, but Stonestreet wasn’t entirely comfortable with kissing his co-star, who played his partner, Mitchell. So if you rewatch the first season, you’ll see that no smooches are exchanged!
The straight actor has no qualms. He just wasn’t totally comfortable with kissing another man – which is, of course, absolutely fine! In contrast, the show frequently refers to (if subtly) Phil and Claire Dunphy’s sex life, with a hilarious episode where the pair try to “pick each other up” as if they were both single! Cam and Mitchell’s intimate side is respected and not touched on (pardon us for the pun), but the show is still a smash hit!
Brad Pitt Refused to Kiss Cate Blanchett in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Who would think that of all Hollywood’s superstars, Brad Pitt is the one who’d have an issue with kissing one of his stunning co-stars? But it seems that, once again, it’s the partner's power. At the time, Pitt was married to the equally gorgeous Angelina Jolie and refrained from kissing Blanchett out of respect for his wife.
Sources say that their marriage was on the rocks, so Pitt decided to refrain from kissing Blanchett, much to director David Fincher’s shock! But it seems that whilst he protested, Pitt finally agreed to do the scene due to its importance in the film. Looking back now and seeing that Jolie has split from Pitt, it seems that he doesn’t regret going in to steal a kiss!
Denzel Washington Wouldn’t Kiss Julia Roberts in “The Pelican Brief”
Of course, Julia Roberts is one of the screen's darlings, particularly in America. So when she was cast opposite the extremely accomplished (and very handsome!) Denzel Washington, it seemed that audiences would be witnessing a locking of lips between two greats! In The Pelican Brief, the pair were asked to kiss. It seems that kissing your co-star is a professional hazard. Whilst many actors would never have dreamed of passing up this opportunity, Denzel Washington did exactly that and asked for any intimate scenes between the two removed! Julia was rather hurt by this decision, revealing in an interview that she didn't have a pulse. Of course, she wanted to kiss Denzel. It was his idea to take the scenes out. But before we accuse Washington of being unfair to Roberts, the Oscar winner’s decision was not personal.
In a way that surprises us but also leaves us quite impressed, Washington didn’t want to aid in perpetuating the idea of Hollywood. Not to mention he didn’t want to hurt his image; if African-American female fans saw him with a white woman, it could potentially polarise his fans! In an interview, Washington explained went on to say that black women are not often seen as objects of desire on film, yet they have always been his core audience. Whatta man!
Candace Cameron Is Not Into Kissing Any Co-Stars!
Maybe it comes with the territory of being on TV from infancy, but Candace Cameron has learned to stand her ground regarding intimacy. Like her brother Kirk, Candace is a devout Christian and tries to avoid scenes that are just a little too intimate. Over the years, having appeared on The Fuller House and a host of over shows, Cameron confesses she’s never really liked filming those sorts of scenes, as they always made her uncomfortable.
She, too, is only interested in being intimate with her partner, mentioning once that she sometimes does Hallmark movies with a new guy in each movie. Cameron has said that the older she gets, the more uncomfortable she feels with getting intimate with actors on TV. It also seems that her husband isn’t exactly overjoyed at the fact that Candace is getting intimate with other men, even if it is just for show. In fact, he doesn’t watch any of her movies! You’d think your spouse would be all-supportive, but Cameron’s husband “doesn’t watch anything that I do for that very reason,” she explains. “Because it is uncomfortable, and I totally understand and respect it.” Maybe Candace should get on the phone with Bollywood and note how they do their “no-kissing” clauses!
Will Smith Refused to Kiss Another Man in “Six Degrees of Separation”
This action-man is known for his direction under Michael Bay in Bad Boys and being the smooth, suave detective again in Men in Black; Will Smith didn’t just become a superstar overnight. Independent films such as Six Degrees of Separation were necessary for projecting him to fame. The film, which centers on a charismatic gay con man, was a role that made Smith shine as a true individual talent. Working his way up the Upper Eastside and finding himself in the homes of the rich, Smith tricks unsuspecting victims into believing he is the son of Sidney Poitier. Inspired by the life of con artist David Hampton, it’s a laugh-out-loud film and definitely a conversation starter!
As Smith in the film is portraying a gay character, the original script included a scene whereby he is passionately kissed by another man. Smith flatly refused, which irked the director, but he held his position. Taking up Denzel Washington’s advice, Smith did not go through with the scene. The defeated director settled on a fake kiss, which was shot from an alternate angle. At the time, Smith was young, and he retrospectively reflects on his decision, calling it “very immature” but putting it down to the fact that he wasn’t emotionally stable enough to artistically commit to that aspect of the film.