Deleted Moments from The White Lotus: A Complete Guide to Scenes Cut Before Airing
Fans of The White Lotus might be taken aback by the number of scenes that were ultimately cut before airing.
Launched by HBO in 2021, this acclaimed series delves into the lives of vacationing guests and resort staff at a fictitious retreat, showcasing their various personal challenges and triumphs. The anthology also features enigmatic deaths that unravel by the end of each season.
Known for its quirky dialogue, wild storylines, and suspenseful twists, The White Lotus left several filmed scenes on the cutting room floor. Cast members Murray Bartlett, Sabrina Impacciatore, Carrie Coon, and Michelle Monaghan have mentioned missed opportunities that could have enriched their characters’ narratives. Additionally, Luke Gage disclosed a cameo that never materialized.
According to the show’s creator Mike White, the charm lies in not over-planning. “This is, like, my dream gig,” he shared with The New Yorker in February 2025. “I can completely reset things at the end of each season and begin anew.”
Keep reading for an in-depth look at each deleted scene:
Laurie’s Family
Coon provided more insight into her season 3 character’s family backstory, stating to Harper’s Bazaar in March 2025, “Initially, it was revealed that her child was nonbinary, possibly trans, and using they/them pronouns. You see Laurie grappling with how to explain this to her friends and struggling with the language.”
Despite the scenes not making it to air, Coon commended White for his nuanced character development.
“They are presented as complex individuals. His father wrote a pivotal book on the experience of coming out as a gay man within the evangelical church as an adult, which has resonated with many young men in their own paths,” she noted. “Mike embraces challenging cultural issues, and I genuinely appreciate that aspect of his work.”
Understanding Jaclyn’s Actions
Monaghan discussed revealing more about Jaclyn’s behavior during a club scene that was cut. She explained that Jaclyn’s need for attention came from an earlier scene not shown where Jaclyn and her friends were ridiculed. “The three women that Jaclyn is dancing for — or at, depending on your view — made fun of them when they arrived because [Jaclyn, Kate, and Laurie] looked disheveled from the Songkran Festival,” Monaghan mentioned in a March 2025 interview with Bustle.
An Unexpected Cameo
“Fred [Hechinger] and I filmed a scene for season 2. When Jennifer [Coolidge]’s character interacts with the gay men in Palermo, she was supposed to open a door and see me using drugs — although it was just a hallucination,” Gage recounted to The Hollywood Reporter in 2023. “It got cut because it didn’t fit the narrative, but honestly, I didn’t mind since I got to enjoy a trip to the Four Seasons. Now, I keep messaging Mike every day saying, ‘Hey, remember me!’”
Valentina’s Past Challenges
“In the early days, I followed Mike’s directions without truly grasping his vision,” shared Impacciatore, who featured in season 2, during a December 2022 interview with Variety. “He wanted to explore Valentina’s character further, which led to several cut scenes — including one where Valentina discusses her past marriage to a man, expressing her unhappiness. I crafted a backstory involving an abusive husband to delve deeper into her character.”
Impacciatore drew upon these insights, even if they never aired.
“There was another scene that didn’t make it, where I approach the sex workers and say, ‘I see you and I support you girls,’” she recounted. “Despite that, Mike White showcases his genius — with just a few words, he can convey profound truths about a character and life itself.”
Armond’s Background Before ‘The White Lotus’
In a 2021 interview with Variety, Bartlett, who played Armond in the first season, revealed that Armond shared with Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) his lifelong ambition to become an actor. This insight influenced Bartlett’s portrayal of the character as a hotel manager.
