Neal McDonough claims Hollywood blacklisted him out for refusing kiss scene
Neil McDonough has claimed Hollywood blacklisted him for two years after he refused a kiss scene out of loyalty to his wife.
McDonough, a devout Catholic, shares five children with his wife Ruvé Robertson, who he married in 2003. The actor has appeared in a range of hit television series, including Tulsa King, Desperate Housewives, Suits and American Horror Story, but claims to have faced a major setback.
During an episode of the Nothing Left Unsaid podcast, McDonough revealed: “I’d always had in my contracts I wouldn’t kiss another woman on-screen.”
Explaining the reason for the clause, the actor said, “My wife didn’t have any problem with it. It was me, really, who had a problem with it. When I couldn’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.”
McDonough claimed this had a profound effect on him mentally, adding, “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.”
He elaborated: “My identity was an actor, and a really good one. And once you don’t have that identity, you’re kind of lost in a tailspin.”
McDonough previously revealed in 2019 that he lost the lead role in the ABC comedy-drama series due to his refusal to perform sex scenes or kiss co-stars, telling Closer Weekly, “I won’t kiss any other woman because these lips are meant for one woman.”
After three days of production, McDonough was fired from the series, and David James Elliott replaced him as Wolfgang West. Scoundrels ran for one season in 2010.
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