You Star Penn Badgley Told to Make Masturbation Scenes 'Less Creepy'

Penn Badgley recently opened up about some of his more intimate scenes on Netflix's You, in which he plays stalker-murder Joe Goldberg. On Wednesday's episode of Stitcher's "Podcrushed" podcast, Badgley revealed what it's like for him to fake masturbate on screen — and the surprising feedback he's been given by producers.

"I've now done it so many times on camera," said Badgley. "It's a strange — you don't think it's going to be that big of a deal, and then you discover in front of a crew of people with a camera on your face, knowing that, in all likelihood, millions of people are going to see this, you're simulating masturbation."

Badgley discussed the difficulty of shooting those scenes, saying, "I have to say sometimes those scenes are harder than with a person because it's just like, alright, this is what I'm doing."

He told listeners that he's had to film at least one masturbation scene for each season of You, and every time, he gets the same note from directors.

"I've always gotten the note to make it less creepy," said Badgley. "They say like, 'Close your eyes or go faster or go slower.' I'm like, 'What? This man is f*cking murdering people, and he's masturbating in the street. You're saying I'm making it creepy? How is it I'm the one making it creepy?'"

Director Lee Toland Krieger, recalled Badgley, "was like, 'Buddy, I think you gotta close your eyes.'"

"I don't remember exactly what he said," he continued. "He was very graciously communicating that it was creepy ... I'm like, 'That's the f*cking — that's the point.'"

Through the masturbation scenes and producers' attempts to improve them, Badgley has been able to explore the "toxicity and sexual culture while also trying to be sexy."

He added, "That's just this strange line that we're always walking on our show."

You is available to stream on Netflix.

People are talking about You in our forums. Join the conversation.

Deena ElGenaidi's writing has been featured in Nylon, MTV News, Insider, The AV Club, and more. You can follow her on Twitter @deenaelg.