Twitter
Facebook
Having to kiss Luke Macfarlane on “The Night Shift” seems to have been uncomfortable for Brendan Fehr
I posted a story earlier today over at Gay Star News and it has ticked a lot of people off.
Actor Brendan Fehr, one of the stars of the NBC drama The Night Shift, talked about how uncomfortable it was for him to kiss the guy who plays his boyfriend on the show.
‘It was uncomfortable for me,’ he tells TooFab. ‘In Episode 106, my boyfriend (played by openly gay actor Luke Macfarlane) comes and I don’t like kissing guys, it doesn’t do anything for me.’
Of kissing another man the 36-year-old actor says: ‘It’s really uncomfortable, but you gotta get past that, his story is bigger than that. The emotion behind that is so much bigger that that. I was scared, petrified in a lot of ways, but I wanted to push myself and see if I could do it.’
How could anyone have trouble kissing Luke Macfarlane?
Matthew Rhys, who is also straight, did it plenty of times on Brothers & Sisters (pictured left).
I know Fehr’s comments will lead to a lot of “cast gay actors in gay roles” sentiment. But I still think you have to go with the best person -straight or gay – for a gay or straight role. Think of how terrific Mark Ruffalo was in The Normal Heart, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain and Colin Firth in A Single Man.
That said, I don’t think any of them had any issues with kissing another man – at least any issues they felt the need to share publicly.
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Dale Wellington says:
Wow that’s strange because the first movie I ever saw Brandon in was called Sugar, he played a gay hustler.
K. Martinez says:
Brenden Fehr was scared, petrified in a lot of ways? Oh, please! If that’s what throws him off course, then his shit must be weak. Shut up and act!
I agree about casting the best actor for the role regardless of sexual orientation of the actor or the character.
Sarah says:
I’m very disappointed with Brendan Fehr after reading this. Why he felt the need to share this? Is he scared that someone could think he’s gay? I was looking forward to see Episode 106. Now, I’m not.
They should have cast Luke Macfarlane as Drew. He would have been perfect. I don’t understand why they cast someone who clearly has too many issues with playing a gay character.
Mike says:
I would have no problem kissing Luke Macfarlane. He’s one hot man.
David says:
I take a different approach to this. I don’t see anything wrong with what he said. There might have been some, “Don’t worries ladies, I’m really straight!” that caused this, but he said he took the role because he wanted to be challenged. I love the show, and his story line, and the fact that he was uncomfortable with it, did it anyway, and came out the other side, shows growth. Maybe he should have just kept it to himself, but at least he’s being honest. I respect that.
Mark Bessenger says:
I agree, cast the best actor for the role, but speaking as a director, if you’re playing a gay character and scenes of intimacy bother you, then it will affect your performance and that means you are not the best actor for the role. Step aside and let someone else have a chance.
Larry says:
I’m very surprised by Brendon’s comments especially after playing a gay role in the past. If he’s that uncomfortable I wonder why he took the part. This will really color my perception of his story going further. I just don’t know why he felt the need to reveal this. So disappointed with the actor.
Alex says:
Heath’s and Jake’s performance in BBM was overrated in my opinion. As for this dude.. well just don’t take gay roles then? geezz…
joebatch says:
Alex, Just curious about why you think Heath’s and Jake’s performances were overrated. I ask because there are people I know who saw the movie,people(straight men and women) who I thought would hate the movie because of it’s theme but they were very impressed with the movie and the actors and several of them cried at the ending. I do agree with you about this dudes tripping tho,why does he take on roles that make him uncomfortable?
Lexxvs says:
That’s all folks, it’s proven then: gay seem to be better actors, they don’t seem to face such hurdles when kissing women even when they are not in the least attracted to them. Casting a straight actor that seems to think that kissing a (rather handsome by the way but it’s beyond the point) man is a challenge is ill thought. You don’t cast actors who like to kill to play an assassin, you need someone who can play the role understanding what he is doing, and I hardly have heard anyone having to question himself to play a killer. But straight actors highlighting his apparent heroism by overcoming disgust because they think they can gain some acting respect is more deserving of the last century. Yes, whether it’s a man or a woman, as a person you can not always click with the other actor to perform (with or without intimate scenes) but that’s why it’s called “acting”.
Newton says:
Are we now taking people to task for expressing how they feel. He hasn’t expressed anything remotely homophobic. All he said was he wasn’t comfortable kissing another guy. Is it now a requirement that all straight guys who support LGBT people must be comfortable kissing other guys themselves?!
And shame on all who call for selective sharing and expression!
Gaspar Marino says:
I for one never heard of The Night Shift, when is it on and what channel.
As an actor, one must play the character in the script. If the character is gay he must put himself in a gay man’s mind set and be true to the author’s intent inherent in the script. Same for a gay actor playing straight.
Ron Minor says:
Fire this damn straight actor who is having such a hard time doing his job… Give it to someone who is truly an actor….. disgusting… I will not be watching this show again…
JP says:
Why in 2014 is this even a thing? I’ve heard several prominent straight actors, when being interviewed about kissing another man for a role, say it was no big deal, lips are lips, that’s what the script called for, end of discussion. If Fehr is uncomfortable with male/male kissing perhaps he should refuse gay roles.
Jim Steele says:
Bless his heart. I guess he’s afraid that taking gay roles will make people think he enjoys getting paid for being an actor. Poor guy.
FAEN says:
What a fucking baby! Enough said.
2201 East says:
Chances are it does nothing for them either.
Sidney says:
For someone who is uncomfortable playing gay why does he keep doing this is not his first time do the research. Plus its Luke please I’m a gay man and if u told me I had to make out with Jessica alba I would totally do it just to tease all the straight guys who wished they could I’m an actor if it’s uncomfortable then it’s probably because we don’t like each other as people again just my opinion
Dennie says:
Why would he even put yourself in a position to kiss another man? When you’re not even homosexual? Is Acting that important to you that you’d take a part out of your comfort zone? There are those who don’t Obviously think theres nothing wrong with this lifestyle. He was being honest, I can appreciate that. But he should stay away from those kinds of parts. Because in todays society if you’re honest about something this contraversal someone will get offended. I know back in the day you would not have even seen something like that on tv. But the morals are in the toilet in this country. So what are you gonna do? Either play the part, or leave the show. I’d leave the show.
Dave says:
This is an old story, I know, but what does it matter what Brendan Fehr, the straight person, felt while doing the scene? Isn’t the real question this: what did the script and the scene call for, and did Brendan Fehr, the actor, deliver?
Look at Michael C Hall in Dexter – is the actor himself required to have had the experience of murdering someone and enjoying it? Does he have to done it himself in order to convince us that the character he portrays enjoys it?
The news about Brendan Fehr should be how well or poorly he played the scene, not what he personally thought about doing it. That’s his business, but why should anyone care what he thinks, besides him?
Michael Sicard says:
I don’t think there is anything wrong with him saying it made him uncomfortable. He also said the story was more important than that. He didn’t say he had a problem with homosexuality. As a gay man I would have trouble kissing a woman. That doesn’t make me heterophobic or sexist. Anything that doesn’t come natural is uncomfortable and hard to do. I think he proved to be an open minded person and professional actor by accepting the role and following through with a steamy kiss scene. Kudos to him I say.
George Garcia says:
I believe that Mr. Fehr is committed to his craft! And if he says he is uncomfortable kissing a man; then, so be it. It is not up to the audience to condemn him for it. Many gay men get uncomfortable in a heterosexual kissing or sex act on camera; but we don’t chastise them for it. So, Mr. Fehr, you’re a professional and you made the scenes believable so continue with your craft; you’ll be very successful!!! And THIS gay man thinks you’re hot!
rensen says:
Newsflash: No actor nor actress in their right mind feels confortable kissing or having sex scenes with other actors who they are either not dating nor married with nor domestic partners with. He is trying to tell us that he does not have bisexual tendencies and he did not know he was going to be in a gay storyline. And he is desperate for a paycheck than turning down a role.
rensen says:
They also look like they might be half brothers.