I don't know how much truth there is to this as
Neal McDonough or his reps have not commented, but it is being reported that the former
Desperate Housewives star was fired from his latest series,
Scoundrels for
refusing to film love scenes.
Apparently he wasn't aware of the sex scenes in the script and because of his religion backed out. However according to an insider it wasn't just the sex scenes, he even refused to kiss his costar
virginia madsen:
"It wasn't just 'heated love scenes'," "He wouldn't do any kissing whatsoever, even though those scenes were clearly in the scripts he read before taking the role. He didn't tell the producers that cast him on this show that he had any issues with this until shooting started. So unprofessional, and such a shame because he is a great talent."Religious reasons or not, on the one hand I admire him for sticking to his principals because even though they say
'oh it's only acting' you don't morph into another human being when your tongue is stuck down someone else's throat. You are still you, but acting, so I think I understand how it could feel uncomfortable to someone. This is a rare stance in Hollywood for sure.
However, I then have to question why anyone would get into acting in the first place particularly in this day and age where pretty much anything goes. Although a lot of celebrities refuse to do nudity, I'm not sure how any type of love scene over the entire span of you career can be avoided.
To take it
one step further, he had no problem playing a psychotic killer in
Desperate Housewives that was willing to kill a child. Personally I would rather do a love scene, but that's just me.
Neal was replaced with
David James Ellicot, three days after allegedly refusing to do the scenes.
ABC refused to reveal details as to why he left the show.