Inside ‘White Lotus’: Sam Nivola Breaks Silence on TV’s Most Shocking Scene
New episode of HBO’s The White Lotus sends viewers reeling as actor Sam Nivola revisits one of the most controversial scenes in recent television.
It was the moment no one saw coming—and now Sam Nivola, who plays Lochlan in season three of The White Lotus, has shared what it was really like to film the show’s most jaw-dropping twist.
In episode six, titled “Denials”, Lochlan is revealed to have performed a sexual act on his brother Saxon during a hazy, drug-fueled night aboard a yacht. The scene, which included a threesome with another guest, sparked outrage, boycott calls, and fervent online debate. Viewers were left unsettled—and Nivola admits, so was he.
Behind the Scene: “It Felt Fked Up”**
Nivola confided that when he first read the scene, he assumed there had been a typo—“me and him?” he recalled thinking with incredulity.
The discomfort went beyond the storyline. He described the on-screen brother as “a really good friend,” and, being straight himself, the intimacy felt inherently awkward. “It felt so wrong,” he told The Tab, adding, “It’s just weird to even talk about.”
But what truly unsettled him was how physically exhausting the scene proved to be: “I was sort of doing a one‑armed plank, with my other hand jerking off Patrick… …At one point, I was on the verge of passing out.”
Trust, Direction & Intention
Despite the discomfort, Nivola praised the production’s handling of the scene. He acknowledged the invaluable role of intimacy coordinators, although noted the awkwardness of their technical terminology, which was made more approachable thanks to the show's creator, Mike White, simplifying it to understandable language.
Both Nivola and Patrick Schwarzenegger emphasized recent revelations as driven by story—not shock. The scene was designed to explore Lochlan's insecurity and desperate need for approval, as he tried, and failed, to emulate his brother’s confidence and persona.
Editorial Perspective
Few shows have dared to tread into territory as taboo as this—and even fewer have the narrative dexterity to frame it as metaphor rather than sensationalism. The White Lotus continues to challenge audiences—not just with its twisted tales, but with the human truths they reveal.
As viewers struggle to process what they’ve seen, Sam Nivola’s candid recollections remind us: this wasn’t just entertainment. It was a daring, disquieting character study—uncomfortable, yes… but meticulously crafted.