“Outer Banks” fans speculate use of body doubles in cuddling scene

“WHAT’S HAPPENED to professionalism?” 

This is the question many on the internet have been asking after a clip of the popular Netflix show started circulating on the internet. 

The show follows a group of teenagers who are looking for treasure, set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. 

In this particular scene, couple Kiara and JJ, played by Madison Bailey and Rudy Pankow respectively, are seen cuddling with and speaking to one another.

Fans have since scrutinized the camera cut, alleging that the show made use of body doubles for the scene. 

This follows after rumors that the two are no longer friends in real life, with fans theorizing that it was due to Madison and Rudy’s significant others being uncomfortable with how hard the pair were being shipped both on and off of the show. 

Regarding this, Pankow told Cosmopolitan Magazine: “I think a lot of people can intertwine a narrative and what they want to believe and they take it out on someone that doesn’t deserve it.”

Pankow’s statement came after his girlfriend, Elaine Siemek, was receiving hate online, even being accused of being abusive and manipulative.

Bailey also came to her girlfriend Mariah Linney’s defense after fans accused her of “causing a wedge” between her and Pankow.

Regarding her and Pankow, she said: “We never had any romantic relationship ever and y’all are like, “They belong together. No we don’t.”

“Bring back professionalism”

While it has yet to be confirmed whether or not the show actually did use body doubles in the given scene, a discussion on professionalism has since been making rounds online. 

One user on X asked: “Can we please bring back professional actors? This is hard to watch!”

People online have also compared it to the iconic Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Elena (Nina Dobrev) situation on season eight of “The Vampire Diaries”, wherein Ian kissed Nina’s chin instead of her lips following their breaking up in real life. 

“Back in my day, it didn’t matter if you hated your co-star; you were forced to do a 10-season-long run together,” another user joked. 

Many other examples have also risen up, such as “One Tree Hill” actors Chad Michael-Murray and Sophia Bush, who had to remain professional on set despite going through a divorce outside of the show.

People online have since started acting when directors need to draw a line in terms of the demands of actors on-set, and are also questioning whether or not behavior such as this is normal, or should be accepted. 

Others have also likened it to other professions, stating that it would not fly in any other field to have personal drama hinder how you do your job.

Again, however, the speculations behind Bailey and Pankow’s relationship, as well as the use of body doubles for their scene in Outer Banks, are still only speculation. Fans online await to hear confirmation on what is actually happening behind the scenes.