Emily Osment says age gap with Montana Jordan led her to request an intimacy coordinator on Young Sheldon

The Young Sheldon actress said the 30‑year‑old felt uneasy filming romantic moments with the 18‑year‑old co‑star and secured an intimacy coordinator for later episodes.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 25 Oct 2026 06:29:28 GMT

Emily Osset, who plays Mandy McAllister on CBS’s “Young Sheldon,” said the age difference with co‑star Montana Jordan made early kissing scenes uncomfortable, leading her to request an intimacy coordinator for subsequent episodes, according to news18.com and Variety.

What happened

During the series’ initial episodes, Jordan, who portrays George Cooper, was 18 years old while Osset was 30. Osset described the scenes as awkward because of the "baby" age gap. After voicing her concerns, the production arranged for an intimacy coordinator to be present for the next few episodes where the characters’ relationship develops.

What the reports add

Both outlets note that the age gap (18 vs. 30) made the kissing scenes “a little awkward.”
Osset told Variety she spoke to intimacy‑coordinator‑expert Tim Marx; the coordinator could not be secured for the first day’s shoot but was on set for the following episodes as the romance escalated.
Director Alex Reid said the crew “totally dropped the ball” on the early kissing moments because the show contains no sex scenes.
Variety reports co‑creator Steve Molaro said Osset had “every right to ask” for an intimacy coordinator and later felt comfortable without one.
The book also mentions a planned spin‑off titled “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” which the network initially worried about due to the age gap.

What was said

“That made me uncomfortable. He was a baby! A baby with a mullet. So I spoke to Tim Marx, and obviously they were not able to get one that late in the day, but for the next few episodes they had one there, since the relationship between them escalates,”

— Emily Osset, quoted in Variety.

“I don’t know if Montana even knew if he could ask for that. Like, let’s give him the option, too. Make him comfortable. And he’s such a sweet kid, I think he would just eat his discomfort,”

— Emily Osset, quoted in both news18.com and Variety.

“We totally dropped the ball,”

— Director Alex Reid, as reported by Variety.

“He has every right to ask for an intimacy coordinator,”

— Co‑creator Steve Molaro, as reported by Variety.

How it came about

Osset’s comments appear in Jessica Radloff’s new book about the making of the series, Young Sheldon: The (Juicier‑Than‑Meemaw’s‑Brisket) Inside Story of the Hit Comedy, which details behind‑the‑scenes decisions. The actress’s request for an intimacy coordinator reflects a broader industry trend toward safeguarding actors during intimate moments.

Key facts

Emily Osment was 30 and Montana Jordan was 18 when they filmed early kissing scenes on Young Sheldon. (news18.com)
Osment requested an intimacy coordinator after expressing discomfort with the age gap. (variety.com)
An intimacy coordinator was present for later episodes where the characters' relationship escalates. (variety.com)
Director Alex Reid said the production "totally dropped the ball" on the early kissing scenes. (variety.com)