Kerr Smith Reflects on “Dawson’s Creek” and the Kiss That Changed Television Forever

It was 1998 — the era of pagers, pop ballads, and prime-time dramas that dared to test boundaries. And on one unforgettable night, “Dawson’s Creek” made television history. The show aired American TV’s first romantic kiss between two men, forever altering the landscape of LGBTQ+ representation on screen.

Now, more than two decades later, Kerr Smith — the actor who portrayed Jack McPhee — is finally opening up about what really happened behind the scenes and how that groundbreaking moment almost didn’t happen at all.

Speaking candidly on the Pod Meets World podcast, Smith revealed that he was just 21 years old when creator Kevin Williamson — himself openly gay — pulled him aside for coffee and shared the news that would change his career forever:

“He said, ‘We’re making Jack gay.’”

Smith recalls being stunned — and, in his own words, “very, very scared.”

“I went home that night and called everyone I respected,” Smith said. “My family, my mentors, a few actors I trusted. I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing. Remember, this was 1998. The world was very different then.”

When the storyline aired, the cultural impact was immediate — and so was the backlash. Smith vividly remembers the protests that erupted around the Dawson’s Creek set.

“There were angry protestors outside, screaming while I was eating lunch behind a brick wall,” he shared. “If I had walked out there, they’d probably beat the crap out of me.”

For Smith, the moment was both terrifying and transformative. The kiss between Jack McPhee and Ethan (played by Adam Kaufman) aired during the show’s third season — and instantly made television history. It wasn’t just a kiss between two characters; it was a symbol of courage, a statement that love and identity deserved to be seen, even when it made people uncomfortable.

Reflecting on it today, Smith — now 53 — says he’s “super proud” of what they achieved.

“It took real courage — from Kevin, from the network, from everyone involved. We didn’t know how it would be received. But looking back, I’m so glad we did it. That moment changed things. It changed television.”

Indeed, the kiss between Jack and Ethan paved the way for the next generation of LGBTQ+ stories on TV — from Will & Grace and Glee to Euphoria and Heartstopper. It marked a cultural turning point where silence gave way to representation, and fear began to yield to empathy.

For Kerr Smith, the journey from fear to pride mirrors the evolution of the industry itself. What was once a professional risk has become a legacy of bravery and authenticity — one that continues to inspire both actors and audiences alike.

“It wasn’t just about me,” Smith said. “It was about everyone who needed to see that moment and feel like they weren’t alone.”

Twenty-five years later, the kiss still resonates — a quiet, defiant act that spoke volumes. And for Kerr Smith, that legacy remains one of the proudest chapters of his career.