Film

Selma Blair and Sarah Michelle Gellar Give Their ‘Cruel Intentions’ Smooch a COVID Safe Update

Maybe 2020 has SOME taste

by Merryana Salem  8 December 2020
cruel intentions

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The kiss shared between Selma Blair and Sara Michelle Gellar in the 1999 cult classic Cruel Intentions is an iconic moment in queer cinema, and what better way to recognise this legendary contribution than with a GOAT award at the MTV Movie & TV Awards: Greatest of All Times special.

And to celebrate their win of the GOAT: Legendary Lip Lock award last night, Selma Blair and Sara Michelle Gellar gave fans exactly what they needed, and recreated their iconic kiss from Cruel Intentions.

In the original film, the pair play, shall we say, frenemies, and share an iconic smooch. Many LGBTIQ folks, including Demi Lovato, site the moment as being their queer awakening.

Of course, the recreation of said smooch had to have a very 2020 twist to it. The actors accepted their award remotely via video of them recreating the kiss in a backyard. The extra twist? As they are about to lock lips-BOOM! A glass barrier is revealed to be between them. In this house, we hate COVID-19!

Apart from cheekily reminding people to be safe, and pleading for 2020 to end, the pair spoke to the kiss’ legacy. Why they believe it resonated so much with people, especially queer folks.

“I think the reason the kiss has resonated with people for so long is not just for the initial shock value,” Blair said in the video, “but because it was a catalyst for so many young people to help them realise certain aspects of their sexuality and help make people comfortable to be who they really are.”

“It also presented a paradigm shift to a new dynamic toward acceptance in pop culture. And also, it was super hot,” added Gellar.

Selma Blair and Sara Michelle Gellar have remained close friends since they shot the film in 1998. Gellar has also been very supportive after Blair’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

“Selma tries to get rid of me, but I have the keys to her house, so she’s stuck with me,” Gellar said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

Finally, its important to note that with this award, Gellar and Blair’s Cruel Intentions kiss becomes the most awarded kiss in MTV movie award history. I suppose that, despite the glass preventing the full pash, I cannot help but think maybe 2020 is totally tasteless.