Penn Badgley is calling out Netflix. Image Source: GQ
Penn Badgley is calling out Netflix.
Penn Badgley, who plays fictional homicidal stalker Joe Goldberg on Netflix’s "You," recently called out the streaming platform for making the audience fascinated with real-life serial killers.
In a recent interview, the actor was asked about Netflix’s shows, including Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, in which actor Evan Peters portrayed the character of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, in which actor Zac Efron played the character of Ted Bundy. Penn was asked about his view on the audience admitting that they are attracted to problematic men, to which he said that they need to look inside, adding that, to be fair, with their show, people are meant to fall in love with Joe Goldberg. That's on them.
He went on to say that when it comes to real-life serial killers being glorified on screen, if they're talking about Ted Bundy or Jeffery Dahmer, that's on them, before adding that it's on Netflix. Penn said that it is squarely on the shoulders of Netflix, noting that it doesn't have answers at this point before stating that he does, but they're long and mentioning that yeah, it's weird, man.
Penn Badgley reacted to Joe Goldberg's likability factor in You in a 2019 interview with ET after the series' first season, amid viewers' reactions to finding the character "attractive." He said at the time that they as the show's creators, and he, as the actor, certainly want to take responsibility for him being as likable as he is. The actor went on to say that he does not want to simply say that it's troublesome and that the viewers' responses are questionable; he thinks what is inspiring regarding it is that at a time when they're attempting to empowerment of women and gender equality, they are indeed able to be captivated and charmed by a persona like Joe. Penn adds that it refers to how deeply ingrained a lot of these standards and norms are that we love to see a guy behave like him. In a way, Joe is a great cultural touchpoint to say adding that they still have a lot of work to do.
During a recent Variety interview, Penn expressed his horror at the troubling, enduring Joe-as-thirst-trap trend, which he has addressed publicly several times, including a reply to a fan who asked him to kidnap her and he replied no, thanks.
Sarah Schechter, the executive producer of the show says that it's not easy to have the world rooting for a character when they've murdered as many people as Joe Goldberg, recalling the initial wave of audience members having unhealthy feelings for Joe. She said that everyone kept saying things like they want someone like Joe Goldberg to kill them to which Penn would say that they shouldn't be drawn to such a problematic character. He said that Joe is just a very solid human being who understands the significance of playing this role and the opportunity to highlight and spark discussion about toxic masculinity
The entire series revolves around Joe's romantic obsessions and how he manipulates the women he falls for. "You" is loaded with sex. But for season four, Penn Badgley describes his aversion to sex scenes, despite having done a fair amount of them in his career. He said he hasn't blurred any lines adding that there's almost nothing he could say with more solemnity. He mentioned how that element of Hollywood has always irked him, and how that element of the job, that temperamental dividing line, seems to be something he does not want to play with. He's now also older than the romantic partners on the show continuing that it wasn't always like this.
Penn Badgley wishes he wasn't required to perform any sex scenes. He explained that not having sex scenes is important to him in his real life and explained that his relationship fidelity is significant to him. He also revealed that it was one of the reasons he initially declined the role but he didn't tell anyone about it. But that is the reason. Penn Badgley's wife Domino Kirke-Badgley, on the other hand, encouraged him to play Joe, saying, that he wasn't going to listen to anyone more than her.
During those discussions with his wife, he was also won over by executive producers Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Sera Gamble. Sera said she could feel his energy shift when he realized they were all on the same page about why they would tell a story about a character like this — it wasn't to justify Joe. She continued that it was to humanely euthanize him, to figure out why a milder version of this personality is the main character in the majority of romantic subplots in the Western canon.
Part I of season four 'You' is streaming on Netflix.
