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From my days in 'Dawson's Creek' I mean, the high school's the same. Although it began as another high school subplot, it soon evolved into one of the boldest moves in teen drama history.

Years later, Smith is revisiting that defining moment, revealing how one groundbreaking scene not only changed television but also sparked outrage that he’ll never forget.

Kerr Smith Revisits The ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Moment That Ignited Massive Rage

By the time Kerr Smith joined ‘Dawson’s Creek‘ in its second season, the series had already built a reputation for tackling teenage emotions with unusual candor.

There, he plans to share more about his time on set and the cultural shift it helped inspire.

It eventually contributed to the broader cultural shift toward inclusivity that’s now taken for granted. It received hostile stares from the Family Research Council, as in Thea Glassman’s 2023 book, ‘Freaks, Geeks, and Dawson’s Creek. Yet amid the outrage, the episode turned out to be a turning point in television history.

Looking back now, Smith said he feels immense pride in what they accomplished.

Speaking on the ‘Pod Meets World‘ podcast, Smith recalled the chaos that followed. It also happened around the same time show creator Kevin Williamson said he was gay.

More: One Pretty Creek? But not everyone celebrated it. No ponderous essays about what it means to society," according to the article.

The article only mentions 31 teens protesting in Wilmington in front of Screen Gems studio (now Cinespace).

An argument was made in the article that being on the "little-watched WB Network" might have kept it from scrutiny.

While hints were thrown about Jack McPhee's sexuality, it was made clear when he angrily told his father to ask him if he was gay.

He has a younger sister, Alison. But Smith’s journey as Jack McPhee took an unexpected turn when creator Kevin Williamson invited him for coffee and revealed that his character would come out as gay.

Related: Is ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Reboot Happening?

kerr smith gay

"If we can shed some light on things or help some people, then that's great."

Here's What Happened To Dawson's Creek Star Kerr Smith

Jack will likely remain his most iconic role, but Kerr Smith hasn't rested on his laurels since saying goodbye to Capeside. "I'm walking around Riverdale High, but in my mind, it feels like Capeside!" Smith actually still feels like Jughead or Archie, rather than the school principal, revealing, "For me, this is weird!"

‘Dawson’s Creek’ Star Kerr Smith Revisits The Gay Kiss That Sparked A TV Revolution

When Jack McPhee first showed up in ‘Dawson’s Creek‘, no one, not even Kerr Smith himself,  imagined how much his story would storm the world.

He is also the co-owner of the Venice Beach Beer Company. Still, Smith decided to stay the course. After three years in NYC working on "As the World Turns," and films such as "Hit and Runway" and "Kiss and Tell," he moved to Los Angeles where he landed the role of "Jack McPhee" on the hit series "Dawson's Creek" after being in Los Angeles for only seven weeks.

He noted that the risk they took reshaped TV’s understanding of love and acceptance. He asked Williamson for a couple of days to think about it, during which time he spent calling people he respected to discuss whether he should go through with the role.

Back then, playing a gay character on prime-time television was considered a major gamble.

After college, Kerr moved to New York City where he quickly began his career in acting. He said protests erupted outside the studio, with angry crowds yelling just beyond the brick wall where he was quietly eating his lunch.

In case you missed it: Top 20 Most Iconic And Influential LGBTQ Characters In The History Of TV Shows

If I had walked out there, they’d probably beat the crap out of me,” he remembered.

No 'Yep, I'm Gay!' magazine cover.