To kiss or not to kiss? That is the question on everyone’s lips after Nicole Kidman and Alexander Skarsgard shared a smooch at the Emmys on Monday.
Big Little Lies star Skarsgard was on his way to the stage to accept his award for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Television Movie when he stopped to embrace Kidman, who played his wife on the show.
The pair kissed on the lips, while Kidman’s husband watched on behind her, and briefly held each other’s gaze before Skarsgard headed to the podium.
While there was certainly nothing romantic in the kiss, it does pose an interesting question: do you kiss your friends on the lips?
The debate has arisen in a number of forms over the years with people arguing over whether it’s okay to kiss family members on the mouth or if the intimate show of affection should be reserved for partners only.
Cultural factors also come into play, with some nations showering each other with kisses while other recoil at the sign of public displays of affection.
For Kidman and Skarsgard it seems the bond they formed while filming their difficult scenes in Big Little Lies means they feel comfortable with such a public show of friendly love.
Skarsgard plays Kidman’s abusive husband in the show and their sexually violent scenes left a disturbing mark on the audience. He previously told Vanity Fair they always made a point of reconnecting with a hug after their aggressive scenes to keep their friendship strong.
Reactions to their Emmys kiss were rife on social media with people quick to make a cheeky joke about Keith Urban watching the smooch unfold.
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