In today’s episode of Celebrities, They’re Just Like Us, Penn Badgley—aka Joe Goldberg, aka your favorite terrifying bookworm—revealed that he went to BATTLE to wear less clothing in the grand finale of Netflix’s You.
Yes, while most actors are begging wardrobe for more shirts, Penn was out here like, “Can I get less shirt? Maybe, like, no shirt? Maybe, like, barely a hint of pants?”
In a new interview with IconicHipster.com, Penn spilled the tea about some creative differences on set. Translation: he really wanted to be in his undies and the director, Lee Toland Krieger, plus writers Neil Reynolds and Michael Foley, were like, “Bro… no.”
But Penn, a king of commitment, would not be denied.
“It was probably the only time I’ll ever fight to be in a state of undress,” he said.
(Imagine Penn showing up to set like, “What if… no shirt and only sadness?” And the director clutching a clipboard like, “Sir, this is a Wendy’s.”)
Apparently, the big worry was that Joe needed to look progressively bloodier and sweatier, and a tank top would really help show off that “filthy murder-core” aesthetic. Practical? Yes. Sexy? Eh. Penn was like, “Tank top who? I only know raw animalistic despair.”
In the end, guess who won?
Joe Goldberg spent the finale running around the woods in nothing but black boxers, looking like your most concerning Tinder date. And yes, it was glorious.
Co-showrunner Justin W. Lo basically bowed down to Penn’s chaotic energy:
“My hat was really off to Penn… Unlike some actors, he was just like, ‘Can I punch her? Can I lose the shirt? Can I be just the worst goblin possible?’”
Honestly? Goals.
Penn explained that it was super important that Joe didn’t look hot or seductive—just like the nightmare gremlin he really is.
“He needed to be as dangerously close to visually becoming the sexual predator he’s always been,” Penn said, probably while dramatically lighting a single candle for ✨theatrical ambiance✨.
No thirst traps here, guys. Just trauma and emotional damage.
Also, Penn fully threw himself into the role—literally. He was out in the woods at 3 a.m., sweating, bleeding, covered in dirt, doing burpees between takes like it was a very cursed CrossFit class.
“For two weeks, it was just [me] in the woods at night, in my underwear, just exhausting myself.”
This is what actors mean when they say they “suffer for their art.” Meanwhile, I “suffer for my art” when my DoorDash order is late.
And just when you thought he couldn’t commit harder, Penn even altered Joe’s VOICE.
“I thought it was important not to do the sexy deep gravelly voice,” he said.
Instead, he made Joe sound like a sweaty, desperate guy trying to convince you that yes, he does still have time to join your MLM scheme.
Moral of the story: Penn Badgley fought the good fight—for nipples, chaos, and the raw, terrible truth. And somehow, he still made it weirdly iconic.
