Penn Badgley's Religion Explained: Everything to Know About His Beliefs, Family, and Values
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
Hollywood routinely celebrates actors who strip down or push physical limits in the name of artistic authenticity. In early 2023, Badgley challenged that unspoken orthodoxy. Prior to shooting Season 4 of You, he approached showrunner Sera Gamble with an unusual professional request: he wanted to drastically limit simulated sex scenes involving his character.
Badgley explained his reasoning with startling candor on his podcast and in subsequent interviews. While recognizing that intimate scenes were woven into the DNA of a thriller about erotic obsession, he acknowledged that fidelity in his real-world marriage was non-negotiable. In Bahá'í ethics, physical intimacy is understood as an expression of sacred unity reserved exclusively for marriage. Badgley noted that constantly portraying passion with scene partners eroded personal boundaries he preferred to keep intact. Gamble accepted his terms without conflict, altering the scripts to focus the narrative tension on psychological suspense rather than physical encounters. The decision sparked widespread industry debate about actor consent and personal boundaries in streaming television.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
