Patrick Schwarzenegger’s uncomfortable moment in The White Lotus has certainly left an impression on viewers. The actor, who plays Saxon Ratliff in the hit HBO series, had a notably awkward on-screen kiss with his on-screen brother Lochlan, portrayed by Sam Nivola. This tense scene in the March 16 episode sparked curiosity among fans, and now, co-star Charlotte Le Bon has opened up about how the scene was filmed, revealing that Schwarzenegger himself was as uneasy as the audience seemed to be while watching.
In an interview with Vulture, Le Bon, who plays Greg Hunt’s new girlfriend, Chloe, explained that the kiss was not easy for Schwarzenegger. “Well obviously they’re not brothers by blood, so that made it easier,” she said, noting that the actors’ real-life relationship didn’t add to the discomfort. However, Le Bon admitted that Schwarzenegger was still hesitant about filming the intimate moment. “For Patrick, it was really difficult,” she said. “For Sam, he was kind of like, ‘It’s whatever, let’s just do it well one time and it will be over.’”
She went on to share that the emotional reaction seen on-screen was genuine. “Patrick’s reaction in the episode is his genuine reaction,” Le Bon revealed. “We all thought he was going to throw up. And Sam was like, ‘It’s fine, it’s just a kiss, calm down!’”
From left: Charlotte Le Bon, Sam Nivola, and Aimee Lou Wood in ‘The White Lotus’. Fabio Lovino/HBO
The scene in question, which involves Saxon and Lochlan sharing a kiss on Chloe’s yacht, is one of the more shocking and unsettling moments of the series. Chloe, who is looking for chaos and excitement during her stay at the White Lotus resort in Thailand, encourages the kiss after taking a mystery pill with her new friends. As the night progresses, Chloe’s reckless behavior culminates in the kiss, which fans are still trying to unpack.
Le Bon described her character Chloe as someone who fills the emptiness inside her with partying, chaos, and reckless behavior. “I think Chloe is deeply, deeply bored,” she said. “There’s a void inside of her. She fills that void with partying, sex, and chaos. This kiss between the two brothers for her is just pure entertainment, which is obviously really evil when you think about it.”
Chloe’s casual indifference to the situation highlights her detachment from any consequences, something Le Bon believes defines her character. “She’s not attached to life — I don’t know how to say it,” Le Bon explained. “She’s just there. She’s just incarnated in this body to live the experience of life and she doesn’t really care about the rest.”
Patrick Schwarzenegger in ‘The White Lotus’. MAX
The scene also shows Chloe locking lips with another character, Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), further emphasizing her disregard for social norms and relationships. For Chloe, everything is about living in the moment, no matter how damaging it might be to others around her.
While Chloe may seem to live a carefree, impulsive life, Le Bon suggested that her character likely never thinks about the consequences of her actions. “She’s the kind of person who’s never thought about that, or else she was just always able to manage her way through it,” Le Bon said. “She’s probably smart like that. It is really chaotic and dark.”
The tension between the characters of Saxon and Lochlan Ratliff has been building since the first episode of the season. Fans were quick to notice the odd dynamics between the two brothers, particularly after Lochlan seemed to fixate on Saxon when he was fully naked. This moment raised eyebrows, and Schwarzenegger hinted at the unusual nature of their relationship in an earlier interview with The Radio Times. “I think that the relationship with his brother — although it’s very odd and weird, which is what [creator] Mike [White] wanted — it’s still very loving at the same time,” Schwarzenegger said. “I mean, it’s just that Saxon has this false perception and idea of what he thinks makes a man and who he thinks he is, and he’s trying to groom his younger brother to become that.”
The intriguing and at times uncomfortable relationship between the two brothers is a key element of the show, adding layers to the plot’s complexity. The controversial kiss is sure to be a topic of discussion among viewers as The White Lotus continues to unravel its unpredictable storylines.
New episodes of The White Lotus air every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max.
