Chord Overstreet and Amber Riley in ‘Glee’.Photo:courtesy Everett Collection
courtesy Everett Collection
Amber Rileysays she fought for herGleecharacter Mercedes Jones to stay true to her values.
“I told [Gleeco-creator] Brad [Falchuk], ‘Absolutely not,' " Riley, 38, recalled, adding that she learned of the scene when it had already been finalized. “It was written. I said, ‘No.'"
According to Riley’s memory of the conversation, Falchuk suggested that they tone down the more explicit sex scene and instead go with an implied scene where the two “hold hands and walk into the room and then close the door.”
Amber Riley.Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty
Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty
TheSingle Black Femalestar said she even refused any implication that Mercedes and Sam had sex.
“I was just like, ‘No,’ " she said. ‘I’m not doing it. I don’t ever tell you guys ‘no.’ I don’t fight about anything… But this?' It would’ve been so awkward, and I feel like it would’ve read awkward.”
In the show, Mercedes was a devout Christian who had declared that she intended to remain a virgin until marriage, so Riley said she felt like the sex storyline would have been untrue to the character.
“Let her stick to her guns if that’s what she’s saying that she [was going to do],” Riley said of Mercedes.
She explained that keeping in mind the younger audiences who were watchingGleewas important to her.
“I mean, I grew up the church girl. It just wouldn’t happen. Like, not at that age, you know what I’m saying? Not that easily,” she said, further explaining why she had such strong convictions against the scene.
Naya Rivera and Amber Riley in “Glee.".FOX Image Collection via Getty
FOX Image Collection via Getty
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“And then being pressured and all that kind of stuff — and doing it for someone else when it’s not really what you really believe — the message I felt that would’ve sent to young girls wouldn’t have been great.
source: people.com
