‘It felt so wrong’: The White Lotus actors open up about that incest scene

If you’re still reeling from the incest scene in The White Lotus, you’re definitely not the only one. And now, the two actors at the center of the storm, Sam Nivola (Lochlan) and Patrick Schwarzenegger (Saxon), have opened up about just how uncomfortable it was to film. Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.

Wait, what just happened?

So here’s what went down: Episode five left us all in shock with a drunken kiss between Lochlan and Saxon. It was awkward. It felt wrong. And we’re still trying to erase it from our brains. But if you thought it couldn’t get any worse, episode six took things to an even more uncomfortable level. Lochlan ends up performing a sex act on Saxon after their wild night out, leaving us all gasping and squirming in our seats. It was… a lot.

HOLD ON A DAMN SECOND…. They ended up in each others shorts the next morning 😭 #WhiteLotus pic.twitter.com/zyH9Il6BjH

— ғʟᴏss.ʏᴏᴜʀ.ᴛᴏᴏᴛʜ (@FlossYourTooth) March 24, 2025

Even the actors were weirded out

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Speaking about The White Lotus incest scene to Variety, Sam Nivola admitted it was as uncomfortable to film as it was to watch. “It was really weird,” Sam said. “Patrick is a really good friend, and we’re both straight. It was just uncomfortable. Kissing him felt… f**ked up.” He also added that Patrick feels like a brother to him, which just makes the whole thing even more bizarre. “It felt so wrong,” Sam continued. “It’s just weird to even talk about.” Yeah, we get it, Sam—definitely not the kind of scene you can casually bring up over coffee.

But don’t think it was any easier for Patrick. While most viewers are focused on the shock factor, Patrick explained the deeper struggle for his character, Saxon. “There’s a lot of sensationalism,” Patrick said. “But for Saxon, it’s a big question about what it means to be a man. What defines you? It’s an identity crisis.” So, yeah, there’s more going on under the surface than just the jaw-dropping moments.

Umm… the internet is spiraling right now

As expected, this storyline has completely divided viewers. Some are hooked, others are horrified, and a few are convinced the brothers aren’t actually related.

“This is some of the most disturbing television I’ve watched, maybe ever,” one viewer tweeted.

Another suggested on X, “Most likely they are not actually brothers.”

“At the end, they’ll find out their parents cheated so they have different moms and dads,” another added.

via Warner Bros. Discovery

Both actors defended The White Lotus incest scene. They knew it wasn’t just for shock value; there was always a deeper purpose behind these intense moments. The actors believe the scene is vital for their characters’ development, even though it was tough to film.

Without Mike’s vision, the scene could have easily come across as a cheap drama tactic. However, with his direction, it became a crucial moment for Lochlan and Saxon’s evolving relationship. The actors felt they were in good hands with Mike, knowing he had a clear and important reason for everything.

As Sam said, “We completely trusted him. He’s the mastermind behind it all.”

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Featured image via Warner Bros. Discovery.