Did Cartoon Network Censor Same-Sex Kiss?

A writer for a Cartoon Network show says the cable channel's officials censored a same-sex kiss so the episode could air on TV, the Daily Mail reports.

According to writer Spencer Rothbell, Cartoon Network blocked a full-on kiss between two gay male characters in an episode of the popular show "Clarence," which aired Thursday. The scene shows a man looking for his date at a restaurant and when the two meet, they give each other a quick and friendly peck on each cheek before walking off together, arm-in-arm. During the interaction, an R'n'B slow jam starts to play with the lyrics "love is love."

But Rothebll, who also voices the show's main character, says the scene was supposed to be a little different.

"Originally the guy had flowers and they kissed on the mouth," he tweeted when a fan asked how hard it was to get a same-sex couple in the episode.

"It's such a minor throwaway moment but I guess it's better than nothing," Rothbell later added on his Tumblr. "Maybe one day the main character can be gay and it won't be a big deal."

The Daily Mail reports Rothbell has since made his Twitter account private, but you can read screen shots of the tweets over at Queerty.

Officials from Cartoon Network have yet to comment on the episode, called "Neighborhood Grill."

Queerty points out this is the first same-sex kiss on the network, but the men are not main characters or relevant to plot but are simply used as a joke in the scene.

Watch the scene below: