Cliff Notes – Actress addresses ‘insanely inappropriate’ TV show relationship between 15-year-old and teacher
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Busy Philipps reflects on a controversial storyline from Dawson’s Creek, where her character’s boyfriend, Pacey, engages in a sexual relationship with his 36-year-old teacher, highlighting cultural shifts in perceptions of such narratives.
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The storyline, which aired during the show’s first season, has been widely criticized as “awful” and “creepy” by fans, prompting discussions about the appropriateness of depicting such relationships on screen.
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Joshua Jackson, who portrayed Pacey, acknowledged the complexities of the relationship, suggesting that while teenage attraction to older individuals is real, the responsibility lies with the adult to recognise the inappropriateness of such dynamics.
Actress addresses ‘insanely inappropriate’ TV show relationship between 15-year-old and teacher
A Hollywood actress has discussed an ‘inappropriate’ storyline from one of her old shows (Picture: Moviestore/ Shutterstock)
A Hollywood actress who rose to fame on beloved teen dramas has reflected on a particularly controversial storyline.
Busy Philipps had her break-out appearing in the 90s teen-comedy Freaks and Geeks, going on to appear in Dawson’s Creek.
The show followed a close-knit group of friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, beginning in high school and continuing into college.
Airing for six seasons from 1998 until 2003, it starred James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams.
Joining the series in season 5, Busy played Audrey, Joey’s college roommate who went on to become part of the friendship group and had a brief relationship with Pacey, played by Joshua.
However now, two decades since the show wrapped up, the actress has spoken about a contentious storyline following her character’s former boyfriend and his teacher.
Busy Philipps starred in Dawson’s Creek alongside Joshua Jackson (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)
The teen drama ran for six seasons from 1998 until 2003 (Picture: ABACA/ Shutterstock)
During the series’ first ever episode Pacey, who is 15 at the time, becomes romantically attracted to his 36-year-old English teacher, Tamara Jacobs, played by Leann Hunley.
In a later episode, he pursues his teacher and eventually loses his virginity to her before she leaves town after rumours start swirling of their inappropriate relationship.
Reflecting on the storyline, Busy has now weighed in.
‘He’s going to have a really insanely inappropriate relationship with a teacher, which by the way, is so wild,’ she told People.
‘And just goes to show you culturally how much we have changed for the better, right?’
The storyline was heavily criticised both at the time the show aired and in the years since.
Fans of the show have called the storyline ‘awful’ and ‘creepy’.
Joshua Jackson’s character Pacey lost his virginity to his high school teacher (Picture: Taylor Hill/ FilmMagic)
Previously speaking about the storyline in 2021, Joshua spoke about his thoughts on the problematic relationship between the teenage student and his teacher.
‘I think it is real for a younger person to have sexual desires for an older person. But I think the onus remains upon the older person to be the adult and recognise that that’s inappropriate,’ he told Business Insider.
The actor ‘wasn’t sure’ whether or not the series should have handled Pacey’s romantic encounter with his teacher differently.
‘Do I think that the show should have judged it differently? Maybe, because it’s part and parcel of that double standard. I think it’s necessary to show storylines that have humans making mistakes. I don’t think we presented it as a beautiful or romantic thing,’ he said.
The cast of Dawson’s Creek recently reunited for a live reading of the pilot episode in aid of the F Cancer charity, and in honour of James – who has stage 3 colorectal cancer.
Ahead of the the event, Michelle said that those who worked on the show had a bond that would ‘last a lifetime’.
‘We wanted to gather around our dear friend James and remind him that we are all here,’ she shared.
Busy said the storyline was ‘insanely inappropriate’ (Picture: Phillip Faraone/ Getty Images for MPTF NextGen)
The cast recently reunited for a reunion (Picture: Cindy Ord/ Getty Images for F Cancer)
‘We always have been, and we always will be. And I know the fans of Dawson’s Creek feel the same way.’
Meanwhile creator Kevin Williamson said the series had ‘changed his life’.
‘What began as a personal story about a young man and his friends navigating their way through the challenges of life became so much more than I ever dreamed,’ he said at the live reading.
‘It created an enduring fandom and legacy all over the world. I am so honoured to be a part of it and to support our beautiful friend, James, as we continue to navigate our way through life and its many challenges.’
Dawson’s Creek is streaming on ITVX.
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