In a recent AMA on Reddit, The Boys co-creator Eric Kripke revealed there was one controversial scene from the show that Amazon thought went too far and demanded be cut. The show is based on the hyper-violent satirical comic series of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson and is set in a world where superheroes have become corrupted by power and celebrity. The series follows The Seven - the world’s most powerful but most corrupt group of superheroes - and the titular gang of vigilantes whose mission it is to take them down.
Though there are a few differences between The Boys comics and the show, Amazon allowed Kripke to make an adaptation that stayed true to its source material and captured its gritty, gruesome and darkly funny tone perfectly. Throughout The Boys season 1, the series has never shied away from violent or potentially controversial scenes, which means viewers have been treated to plenty of nudity, sex and gore - including a scene in which the liberation of a dolphin from an aquarium results in its death by hit-and-run (yes, really).
But despite all the violence and gore that did make it into the show, there was one scene that Amazon had to put their foot down over. As reported by CBR, Kripke revealed details of the offending scene in a recent Reddit AMA. It was originally supposed to appear in The Boys episode 2, “Cherry,” and featured Homelander (Antony Starr) - the de facto leader of The Seven who outwardly seems like a Captain American type but is actually a total degenerate. In Kripke’s words:
“There was ONE SCENE that Amazon said FUCK NO, you have to cut. I couldn't quite understand why considering everything else we have in the show, but: Homelander, after being dressed down by Stilwell in episode 2, was standing on one of the Chrysler building Eagles. He pulled his pants down and started jerking off, mumbling "I can do whatever I want" over and over again until he climaxed all over New York City. We shot it! Oh my God, Anthony was the BEST in that scene. Amazon seemed to think it wasn't necessary. I thought it told me something about his psyche. To be clear, they've been great, that may have been the ONLY fight I lost in Season 1.”
Kripke didn’t elaborate further on Amazon’s exact reasoning behind cutting a scene featuring a sadistic superhero masturbating over the Big Apple beyond it being unnecessary, unfortunately. Just for the record, Amazon did allow full-frontal nudity, a scene in which a couple have sex floating in the air and another scene featuring the sexual assault of one of the only good superheroes, Starlight - although the latter was actually an improvement on the controversial comic scene from which it was adapted. But superhero self-gratification atop the Chrysler Building must be where Amazon draws the line.
It’s a shame the scene didn’t make it into the show as it seems like Starr put a lot of effort into it and - as Kripke says - it would’ve fit in well with Homelander’s character. Kripke and Starr shouldn’t worry too much though - The Boys was renewed season 2 and there’ll be plenty of opportunity to exercise their creative talents again in season 2.