On the digital show, the actors discussed their time on the popular musical program. Producers wanted Amber’s character, Mercedes, and another member of the school’s glee club, Sam, played by Chord Overstreet, to knock boots.
The singer shared, “There was supposed to be an episode where she lost her virginity to Sam.” According to Amber, she told the executive producer, Brad Falchuk, “Absolutely not.”Alternatively, Falchuk proposed a suggestive moment instead of a “full-blown-sex scene.””He said, ‘Well, what if we just you know, have you guys hold hands and walk into the room and then like close the door?‘”Amber still wasn’t having it and offered Falchuk another definitive, “No.” Her co-host Kevin was impressed with Riley’s courage and assertiveness. He also praised her for standing up to the producers and refusing to do scenes she didn’t feel comfortable doing.
Additionally, Amber noted, “I said, ‘I’m not doing it. I never tell you guys “no.” I don’t argue about anything… But this?! She also said that the sex scenes didn’t fit with her character’s development. Mercedes was determined to remain a virgin up until Season 5 when she got married. Riley, a ‘Dancing With The Stars alumnus’, couldn’t understand the reason why the fictional high schooler would not “stick to her gun.”
“It would have just been awkward and I felt like it would have sounded awkward,” Riley stated. “I also feel that, yeah, this is not what my character would do. I just didn’t feel that way.” Mercedes and Sam, played by Chord Overstreet, did have romantic scenes that she was comfortable with. Overstreet’s energy in “Bambi” is a big part of why Amber liked her co-star. “He’s like boy Bambi.”
