Patrick Schwarzenegger Nearly Vomited While Filming Brother’s Kiss in White Lotus

Patrick Schwarzenegger had a strong response while filming that controversial kiss with Sam Nivola in The White Lotus.

In a recent interview with Vulture on Monday, March 17, co-star Charlotte Le Bon reminisced about the scene, stating, “Well, they’re obviously not brothers by blood, which made it easier.”

Le Bon, 38, mentioned that Schwarzenegger, 31, required a bit of encouragement, saying, “I think it was quite challenging for Patrick. For Sam, it was more like, ‘Whatever, let’s just do it well once and it’ll be over.’ Because if you don’t nail it on the first go, you might end up doing it multiple times.”

Upon viewing the scene afterward, Le Bon observed that Schwarzenegger’s reaction during the episode was “completely genuine.”

“We all thought he might actually be sick,” she joked. “And Sam was like, ‘It’s just a kiss, take it easy!’”

The moment between Schwarzenegger’s Saxon and Nivola’s Lochlan was foreshadowed — yet many viewers didn’t expect the show to actually depict it. However, in the episode that aired on Sunday, March 16, Lochlan and Saxon kissed while under the influence of substances at a party with Chloe and Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood).

“We didn’t discuss it much until the shoot. My character’s pivotal moment happens during that scene at the end of episode 5,” Nivola, 21, told GQ on Sunday. “We filmed it in several ways, and there was much discussion. Ideally, it was meant to capture how these characters are all really messed up, and of course, the idea of kissing your brother is outrageously wrong and bizarre. But as is typical with The White Lotus, these extreme actions stem from very real and relatable emotions.”

Nivola elaborated on the “complicated” scene from his character’s viewpoint.

“He’s just really seeking his brother’s acceptance, and he’s out partying with Saxon, who keeps blabbing about sex. He’s saying, ‘Sex is life’s main focus. You’ve got to get laid; that’s essential,’” he clarified. “I’m thinking, ‘Alright. In this charged sexual context, what can I do to grab your attention and gain your approval?’ Then, he makes a poor choice to achieve that.”

Nivola commended creator Mike White for his role in bringing the scenes to fruition, stating, “Our final decision was to follow our instincts and let Mike’s direction guide us, allowing the audience to interpret this unique dynamic we have, which is how films and TV should work. Plus, Mike’s directing style is quite loose, which I appreciate. He never comes to a workday with the mindset of, ‘This is my exact vision, and if I don’t get it, I’ll be upset.’”

Nivola continued: “He’s always full of ideas, so as an actor, you must really be authentic and flexible, ready to modify your performance based on what he decides that day. Therefore, we also wanted to avoid making any definitive choices about the dynamic until we were actually filming.”

New episodes of The White Lotus air on HBO Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.