Kissing scenes are pretty common in movies these days, if not expected. Audiences love seeing their
favorite gorgeous stars lock lips, creating romantic tension and excitement on screen.
And usually, it happens without too much fuss. But there have been some instances where an actor or
actress doesn’t want to share an on-screen kiss with their costar. Sometimes it’s for
religious reasons, sometimes it’s because they don’t trust the past of that actor’s partying
ways. And sometimes it’s literally because the other person has a nasty cold! In this video,
we’re taking a look at some actors and actresses who have opted out of lip-locking
on set. Join Facts Verse, as we present: Why He Refused to Kiss His Beautiful Co-Star!
Kirk Cameron Kirk Cameron, primarily known for
his role in the television series "Growing Pains," has been open about his decision not to engage
in on-screen kissing scenes with anyone other than his wife. He attributes this choice to his
personal values and commitment to his marriage. In the movie "Fireproof," released in 2008,
Kirk Cameron portrays the character of Caleb Holt, a firefighter who faces challenges in
his marriage. As part of the storyline, there is a pivotal scene where Caleb and his on-screen wife,
Catherine, played by actress Erin Bethea, share a significant and emotionally charged
kiss. As an actor, he recognized that the kiss was a crucial part of the narrative,
representing a turning point in the relationship between Caleb and Catherine. However, he’d made
a promise not to kiss anyone but his wife. So the crew of the movie came up with an alternate idea.
They had Kirk’s wife come onto set and act as a body double for Erin Bethea. They then shot
the moment in silhouette, so that you could see the two kissing, but you couldn’t really
make out who was in the shot. So that way, Kirk was able to only kiss his wife, and the movie
was still able to somewhat show the two stars kissing. When talking about that switcheroo, Kirk
reiterated that he has a personal commitment not to ever kiss anyone but his wife. He added, “So
when I'm kissing my wife, we're actually husband and wife honoring marriage behind the scenes."
Thandiwe Newton Thandiwe Newton, known for
her diverse and compelling performances in films like "Crash" and "Beloved," has demonstrated her
versatility as an actress throughout her career. In 2008’s "RocknRolla," she portrayed Stella,
a strong-willed accountant entangled in a web of criminal activities. She played opposite Gerard
Butler, who played the character One-Two. The chemistry between Newton and Butler's characters
was vital to the plot, and their on-screen kiss served to heighten the tension and emotional
connection between them. Then came the day that Newton and Butler were supposed to film their
passionate kissing scene. But even the best-laid plans can go awry if one person in a scene gets a
horrible cold. Of course, in the era of COVID, it wouldn’t seem strange at all for someone to
steer clear of set, or others on set if they had a cold. But back then the industry had a
“grin and bear it” attitude when it came to people bringing their colds with them to work. As such,
Butler showed up on the day, sick as a dog, but ready to work. It just so happened that work
on that day involved him swapping spit with his costar, Newton. Newton was not having it
and was not only grossed out by Butler’s appearance on the day but didn’t want to
catch the cold he had. Which all seem reasonable. Newton laughed it off later, saying that director
Guy Ritchie was forced to improvise with the way the scene was shot. Said Newton, “I don't know
how he coped with those problems but it ended up being one of the most brilliant scenes."
Will Smith In the 1993
film "Six Degrees of Separation," Will Smith delivered a critically acclaimed performance,
showcasing his versatility as an actor. One particular aspect of the film that garnered
attention was Smith's decision not to engage in an on-screen kissing scene with his co-star,
Anthony Michael Hall. Over time, Smith has expressed some regret regarding this choice. In
"Six Degrees of Separation," Smith portrayed the character of Paul, a charming and enigmatic young
man who weaves an intricate web of deception. The film explores themes of identity, class, and human
connection. During one pivotal scene, Paul engages in a passionate moment with Hall's character,
resulting in a close embrace but stopping short of a full-on kiss. Smith's decision to omit the kiss
was influenced by his concerns about the potential impact on his burgeoning career. At the time,
Smith was primarily known for his role on the popular television show "The Fresh Prince of
Bel-Air," and he wanted to ensure that his on-screen persona aligned with his public
image. He also told “The Independent” that he had sought advice from fellow acting legend,
Denzel Washington, about it. Denzel reportedly said to Will, “Don't be kissing no man." Smith
took this advice to heart, and the scene was shot from behind Smith, so it would look like
a kiss was happening, despite the two actors not kissing. However, as Smith's career progressed
and he gained more experience as an actor, he began to question his decision to forgo
the on-screen kiss. In subsequent interviews, he has expressed some regret, acknowledging that the
omission of that moment may have detracted from the authenticity and emotional depth of the film.
Bruce Willis Bruce Willis had a memorable arc on
the classic sitcom, Friends, where he played the father of a girl Ross was dating. His character,
Paul Stephens, also had a romantic relationship with Rachel, played by Jennifer Aniston. However,
despite the fact that Aniston was arguably one of the most adored actresses of the time,
Willis didn’t want to kiss her. However, it had very little to do with Jennifer.
It was much more about one of Bruce’s close friends. In 1995, Bruce filmed the movie “12
Monkeys” opposite Brad Pitt. They bonded while on set and had remained close. And at the time,
Pitt was married to none other than Jennifer Aniston. So, as a courtesy to his buddy, Willis
didn’t want to lock lips with his girlfriend. This was in spite of the fact that it was only a stage
kiss and there was no impression that he would be trying to hit on her in real life. Yet Willis felt
it would be a nice move to abstain from the kiss. According to Willis, the two shot the scene at an
angle where you couldn’t actually tell if they were making out. And he said that they didn’t.
He claimed that it was only the illusion of a kiss and that he actually just kissed her
on the cheek. Willis told Rolling Stone that he felt it just wouldn’t have been appropriate
to kiss his friend’s wife, before adding that he did agree that Aniston was a total babe.
Lindsay Lohan Sometimes an actor’s
past can come back to haunt them. But it doesn’t often happen on the set. However,
when Charlie Sheen was filming the movie “Scary Movie 5” he found out that his,
let’s just say, partying ways meant that he was less appealing to his costar to smooth. Lindsay
Lohan was supposed to kiss Sheen three times during one scene. But apparently,
she got cold feet, based on Sheen's notoriety as a playboy and a frequenter of ‘ladies of
the night.’ So she told the producers she wasn’t gonna kiss him. Afraid she’d walk off the movie,
the producers agreed to use a body double for her. However, Lohan apparently got to know Charlie
better over the shoot, and since, and now feels bad about the move. According to the Daily Mail,
she at one point was about to reach out to Sheen to say she was sorry for the whole situation. But
at that point her phone suddenly broke, and she lost his number. Of course, it probably wouldn’t
be that hard to track him down if she REALLY wanted to, but hey. It’s the thought that counts.
Denzel Washington While Denzel has been in
his fair share of romantic movie scenes, there was a time in 1993 when he refused to lock lips
with his costar. And even more surprisingly, his costar was legendary talent, Julia Roberts.
The film was Pelican Brief, a thriller based on the John Grisham novel. But apparently,
it had nothing to do with which star was opposite him, but rather their race. Washington later
talked about how he was motivated by the fact that too often black women are not portrayed on screen
as objects of desire. And he was aware that he also had a big fanbase of black women. So in an
effort not to alienate that demographic, he chose not to be seen on screen kissing a white woman.
He also said that he’d learned this the hard way during test screenings of his movie “The Mighty
Quinn” a few years earlier. In those screenings, the sight of him kissing his white costar,
Mimi Rogers, evoked boos from the black women in attendance. Denzel had those scenes scrapped
from The Might Quinn before it was released. And he made sure to get the scenes with him kissing
Julia Roberts taken out before filming even began for the Pelican Brief. Julia Roberts, however,
was looking forward to the kissing scenes. Said Julia, “Don't I have a pulse? Of course,
I wanted to kiss Denzel. It was his idea to take the damn scenes out."
Now it’s time to hear from you. Do you know of any other stars
who refused an on-screen kiss? Let us know in the comments section below!