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Unfortunately, Evan Peters is not gracing us with his glorious presence in American Horror Story (AHS) this season. The actor has chosen to sit 1984 out and instill a little sanity back into his day-to-day. The choice should come as no surprise considering the range of internally tortured, twisted, and treacherous characters he has had to embody with each passing season. Hopefully, as he is an integral ingredient to the show’s success, Peters will return next season.

Evan Peters of American Horror Story
Evan Peters of ‘American Horror Story’ | Manny Carabel/WireImage

From a cult leader and a school shooter to a serial killer, Peters has played characters that elicit rage, hatred, villainy, and a handful of other personality traits one would consider unadmirable. As a result, Peters has filmed some pretty gruesome and unsettling scenes for AHS.

During an interview with GQ, Peters discussed American Horror Story and what it is like working on the show before revealing the two scenes he found most “traumatic” to film. And, let us not forget, the actor has quite a lengthy list to choose from.

Evan Peters talks ‘American Horror Story’ and trauma 

During his interview with GQ, Peters explained that he’s more of a laid back kind of guy; he’s got a go-with-the-flow nature that doesn’t really come to the surface in AHS, which makes working on the show each season quite strenuous. He explained:

I’m goofy, I’m silly, I like to have fun. I don’t like to yell and scream. I actually hate it. I think it’s disgusting and really awful, and it’s been a challenge for me. Horror Story sort of demanded that of me.

Evan Peters GQ

Conjuring the rage required to convincingly portray beaten and battered individuals is definitely not “goofy” or “silly;” while the actor may be putting his talents to the test, he’s not necessarily having fun (in the ordinary sense of the word). Peters, when asked to discuss the traumatic scenes that come to mind from AHS, remembered the following:

A strange one was when I was Mr. March [in American Horror Story: Hotel]. I was doing this butterfly razor cutting of this poor girl while I was having sex with her. It was just horrific and weird and sad. At that point, it was season five, and I was more comfortable with the crew, so it’s like, okay, I guess my butt will be out. There were some earlier ones that were very unnerving. One thing with Kyle [Spencer in American Horror Story: Coven], I had to get out of the tub and hit a lot of stuff and be upset and was completely naked. You have your cock sock on, but you’re still naked.

Evan Peters GQ

Evan Peters specifically addressed two scenes that combine nudity with violence and rage. Considering we are at our most vulnerable when nude, it should come as no surprise that Peters thinks of these two scenes first.

These scenes not only required him to strip down, but they asked him to fully embody the very kind of man he does not identify with. Combining violence and sex makes for a traumatic and unsettling viewing experience. Imagine being the one in the scene. 

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