In his new posthumous memoir, Scenes From My Life, the late actor Michael K. Williams revealed that he advocated for more intimate scenes between his character, Omar, and his boyfriend, Brandon, while filming the critically acclaimed series The Wire. 

Williams recalled that he felt everyone was dancing around the issue of their intimacy and suggested to one of the directors that they should fully embrace it. He even told them, "You know gay people f---, right?" Williams took matters into his own hands and pulled his co-star, Michael Kevin Darnall, aside to suggest they kiss in their next scene.

The pair agreed to make it spontaneous and natural-looking. When they kissed during rehearsals, everyone was shocked, as it was uncommon, especially for men of color, to see same-sex kisses on television at the time. Despite initial concerns about portraying a gay character, Williams tapped into the sensitive and vulnerable side of Omar, which he found relatable. Scenes From My Life, co-written by Jon Sternfeld, is now available in bookstores.