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The Fosters' actor slams YouTube for age restriction on same-sex kiss video

LOS ANGELES — An actor on ABC Family series The Fosters blasted YouTube for placing an age restriction, which has since been removed, on a video that shows him and another Fosters actor kissing in a scene from the show.

Hayden Byerly (L) and Gavin McIntosh (R) on ABC Family series The Fosters. Photo: Youtube

Hayden Byerly (L) and Gavin McIntosh (R) on ABC Family series The Fosters. Photo: Youtube

LOS ANGELES — An actor on ABC Family series The Fosters blasted YouTube for placing an age restriction, which has since been removed, on a video that shows him and another Fosters actor kissing in a scene from the show.

“What?! YouTube blocking #jonnor scene without age restrictions?” Gavin MacIntosh, who plays Connor on The Fosters, tweeted yesterday (March 29). “100 per cent discrimination & homophobia! So innocent compared to what's on YouTube!”

MacIntosh's tweets have since been deleted. The video in question is not on an official ABC Family account and was posted by a third party.

The video was age restricted for at least most of yesterday. Shortly after Variety contacted YouTube for statement yesterday afternoon, the age restriction was removed.

“When it's brought to our attention that a video or channel was age-gated incorrectly, we act quickly to fix it,” said a YouTube spokesperson.

When asked why the video was originally restricted and why that restriction was lifted, the spokesperson declined to comment.

The scene is from an episode that aired March 2, showing Jude, played by Hayden Byerly, confronting MacIntosh's character about their relationship. The two argue, then share a short kiss at the end of the scene.

The scene did draw controversy after it aired, though much of it focused on the age of the boys. Byerly is 14 and MacIntosh is 15, and both play 13 year olds. The show's co-creator, Peter Paige, tweeted about it the day the episode aired, writing, “Youngest same-sex kiss in US television history? #Jonnor”.

When an age restriction is placed on a video, viewers are unable to see it unless they have a registered Google account with an age of 18+. Google, which owns YouTube, said on a support page that “some videos don't violate our policies, but may not be appropriate for all audiences”.

Reasons listed for an age restriction include “vulgar language, violence and disturbing imagery, nudity and sexually aggressive content and portrayal of harmful or dangerous activities.”

YouTube users typically identify videos that may violate policies by flagging them, and the Google team reviews the videos after they were reported to make the decision. Account owners may also restrict their own videos.

When asked for comment, an ABC Family spokesperson said, “We are very proud of the Jude and Connor storyline” and referred questions to YouTube. MacIntosh has not yet responded to request for comment. VARIETY.COM/ REUTERS

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