Oscar producer Bruce Cohen has claimed that a kiss between actors Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin not seen by viewers wasn't censorship.

When the No Country For Old Men co-stars appeared on the stage at Sunday night's Academy Awards to present the winners for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Screenplay, the men danced, embraced and shared a kiss.

But viewers tuning in to ABC's telecast saw little of that. Instead the network cut away to an extended shot of actress Penelope Cruz, who is married to Bardem.

In a statement released to gay entertainment website AfterElton.com, Cohen, who is openly gay, denies censoring the kiss, which was captured in an AP photo.

“It [the kiss] was unscripted, and the plan in the truck was always to cut to Penelope in the audience applauding Josh's and Javier's introduction, so that is what happened, just as they were starting to dance,” Cohen said. “Josh and Javier's moment (I saw them start to dance, but, to be honest, I have no idea if they kissed – that's the first I've heard of that) would have made a great TV moment, but since no one knew it was coming, we cut to the gorgeous Ms. Cruz as planned. By the time we cut back from her close-up, Josh and Javier were walking to the podium.