Veteran Hollywood star, Neal McDonough, known for his roles in “Band of Brothers” and “Yellowstone”, has revealed that he was blacklisted for refusing to participate in intimate scenes that involved kissing other women.
McDonough, who is happily married, made it clear in his contracts that he wouldn’t engage in romantic or intimate scenes that involved kissing other women, citing his personal values and commitment to his marriage.
According to him, his decision came at a significant cost, claiming that Hollywood “turned on” him and he struggled to find work for two years.
He added that he was fired from a TV show for refusing to wear a “modesty sock” during a simulated s3x scene.
McDonough recalled feeling like his career was over, but he has no regrets about his decision.
He stated, “I always had in my contracts that I wouldn’t kiss another woman on screen. My wife didn’t have any problem with it. It was me, really, who had a problem. I was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t want to put you through it. I know we’re going to start having kids, and I don’t want to put my kids through it.
“When I wouldn’t do it, and they couldn’t understand it, Hollywood just completely turned on me.
“They wouldn’t let me be part of the show anymore. And for two years, I couldn’t get a job, and I lost everything you could possibly imagine. Not just houses and material things, but your swagger, your cool, who you are, your identity, everything”.
Despite the challenges he faced, McDonough’s career eventually picked up again, thanks in part to a role in “Justified” offered by producer Graham Yost.
More recently, McDonough took full control of his narrative with the film “The Last Rodeo,” which he wrote, directed, and starred in.
When the role called for on-screen kisses, McDonough cast his real-life wife, Ruvé, as his character’s partner, ensuring that he could maintain his commitment to his marriage and artistic vision.
He said, “Well, my wife is really hot. She is a good-looking woman, and everything else can pale as compared to my wife, Ruvé.
“It was financed. It was ready to go and I said, ‘I am not doing the movie unless you play my wife. Because I am not going to kiss some other woman on screen.’ And she’s like, ‘Well, I am not an actor.’ I’m like, ‘Well, you are now. So let’s go.’