Popular American actor, Neal McDonough, has revealed that he was shut out of Hollywood because he refused to act in romantic scenes that involved kissing other women.

In a chat on the Nothing Left Unsaid podcast, the actor explained that he always made it clear in his work contracts that he would not kiss on screen. He said this choice caused a lot of problems for him in the industry and eventually led to him being pushed out by producers.

McDonough shared that after he stood his ground, things got really bad. He said he didn’t just lose acting jobs—he lost his lifestyle, confidence, and even his sense of identity. For two years, he couldn’t get any work at all.

Despite all this, he said the decision was something he needed to do. It wasn’t his wife who told him not to kiss in films; it was his personal choice. He said he didn’t want to put his wife or their future children in a situation where they had to see him kiss someone else on TV or in movies.

He also talked about how producers tried to force him to change his mind, saying they would have to replace him if he didn’t agree. But McDonough chose to stick to his beliefs and was fired as a result.

In the end, he said he feels proud of the choice he made, even though it cost him a lot. For him, protecting his marriage, staying true to his faith, and standing by his personal values were more important than any job in Hollywood.