Domino Kirke Says Badgley Chose to Limit Intimate Scenes

Domino Kirke said Penn Badgley chose for himself to limit intimate scenes in his acting work, telling people who have messaged her that the decision was partly for his mental health and was not prompted by her. In an Instagram video on September 28, she rejected speculation that she had influenced her husband’s choice. Kirke said she was happy and proud of Badgley for setting the boundary, which she described as a significant decision in an industry where audiences had come to expect him to play romantic characters. She said the choice was his own and asked people to stop directing messages to her about it. Her account reflects what she said publicly; the reports do not independently establish Badgley’s private reasons. Badgley discussed wanting to avoid a career path centered on romantic-lead roles in 2023, when he spoke about his approach to intimate scenes. He also said fidelity in relationships, including his marriage, mattered to him. His comments gave context to the discussion, though they do not establish that fidelity was his only reason for seeking fewer such scenes. The decision was not an absolute refusal to film intimacy.