Penn Badgley's Wife Domino Kirke Defends Actor's Decision to Stop Filming Sex Scenes

Domino Kirke, wife of actor Penn Badgley, has publicly addressed and defended her husband's decision to cease filming sex scenes, urging fans to move past the issue.

Kirke shared a video and accompanying post on Instagram, responding to what she described as ongoing direct messages from fans who attribute Badgley's decision to her influence. She emphasized that the choice was entirely Badgley's own, made for his "mental health and relational hygiene."

Badgley, known for his role in the Netflix series "You," revealed in 2023 that he had requested "no more intimacy scenes" due to concerns about being typecast as a romantic lead. Kirke expressed pride in her husband for making this decision, recognizing its significance within the entertainment industry.

"It's really major in his industry because that’s the thing they like you to do, and the characters that my husband has played over the years, people have come to expect that he will continue to play that guy," Kirke explained in her video. "When he decided he didn’t want to do this anymore, I was super happy for him, very proud of him because I understood how major it was."

She drew parallels between the pressures faced by actors and those in caregiving professions, such as her work as a doula. Kirke stated that both fields often require individuals to prioritize others' needs and expectations, sometimes at the expense of their own boundaries and well-being.

"I am not just Penn Badgley’s wife — I also do things like support people in making these kinds of decisions for themselves and their careers," Kirke wrote in her post. She highlighted the rarity of discussions around "relational hygiene and mental health" for those in caregiving and entertainment roles, noting the tendency for these professionals to "bleed to create so much for others."

Kirke, a singer and doula, married Badgley in 2017. The couple shares three biological sons, and Badgley is also a stepfather to Kirke's son from a previous relationship. Kirke mentioned her own experience as a doula for 17 years, which involved significant personal sacrifice and being "on autopilot."

She concluded by encouraging those in demanding professions to protect themselves and maintain their boundaries, suggesting that it is possible to continue in their work without it costing them everything. Kirke also promoted an upcoming virtual cohort for caregivers focused on these strategies.