Patrick Schwarzenegger revealed that he will not be watching the final episodes of The White Lotus season 3 with his famous parents, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, amid his character’s NSFW storyline.
While appearing on the Tuesday, March 25, episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, Patrick, 31, was asked if Arnold, 77, or Maria, 69, will watch the last two episodes.
Patrick – who appears on the show as Saxon Ratliff – admitted that “it was a little nerve-wracking watching the first episode with my whole family because I do take some clothes off.”
While watching the season premiere was a family affair, Patrick said that he will not be joined by his parents to watch the final episodes. “I think some upcoming episodes I’m going to watch without them,” he said. “[I] would definitely take a bathroom break [if things get too awkward]. The next episodes, they’re crazy.”
Earlier in the episode, Drew, 50, played a message that Maria recorded for her son. “I think every single one you’ve been nervous for me to watch,” the podcast host said, referencing Patrick’s nude scene in the premiere episode. “You keep saying, ‘That’s not me, that’s a prosthetic.’”
While Arnold and Maria – who were married from 1986 until 2021 – are clearly proud of their son’s success, Patrick previously shut down assumptions that he got acting jobs due to his famous name.
“I know there are people who’ll say I only got this role because of who my dad is,” the Moxie actor told The Sunday Times. “They’re not seeing that I’ve had 10 years of acting classes, put on [high] school plays every week, worked on my characters for hours on end or the hundreds of rejected auditions I’ve been on.”
Patrick added that he’s determined to prove to fans that he books jobs because of his talent. “Of course, it’s frustrating and you can get boxed in and you think at that moment, I wish I didn’t have my last name,” he said. “But, that’s a small moment. I would never trade my life with anyone. I’m very fortunate to have the life and family that I have, the parents I have and the lessons and values they’ve instilled in me.”
While The White Lotus is known for its edgy content, Patrick is involved in one of the most talked about storylines of season 3. Saxon and his brother, Lochlan Ratliff (played by Sam Nivola), had sexual tension in the early episodes, and their relationship became incestuous when they participated in a threesome with Chloe (played by Charlotte Le Bon) during episode 5. Saxon dealt with the aftermath of the encounter during episode 6, and it will likely continue to unfold as the season concludes.
After the controversial episodes aired, Sam, 21, spoke to Variety of how the sex scene was filmed. After noting that they used an intimacy coordinator, Sam said that he trusts creator Mike White “so much.”
“It’s funny the way intimacy coordinators talk. They’re always using anatomically correct vocabulary that feels stale and awkward. I’d be like, “I don’t know if I can grasp the shaft,” and then Mike would be like, “Just jerk him off.” And I’d be like, “OK, that I understand.” I do think intimacy coordinators are a great innovation,” he said. “Both of my parents are actors, and they’ve told me stories of having to do that kind of stuff without someone who has your best interests at heart, with directors who are maybe less supportive and kind and caring as Mike White. I’m definitely happy they exist.”
