Oscar Producer Denies Kiss Was Censored

Academy Awards producer Bruce Cohen (pictured, right) reiterates that the cameras cutting from the dance and kiss between Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin during Sunday's telecast was not due to censorship. Some have expressed skepticism due to the broadcast's three-second delay, which prevented television audiences from hearing supporting actress winner Melissa Leo blurt out the f bomb during her acceptance speech.

Yet in a statement released to The Advocate, Cohen, who is gay and has produced numerous films with LGBT content including Milk, stands by his initial response, adding, "There was nothing intentional about our cut away from Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem dancing and their kiss. We had planned to cut to a reaction shot of Javier's wife, Academy Award-winner Penelope Cruz, in the audience when they were introduced and that's what we did."