Survivor’s Natalie Cole Believed White Lotus Creator Mike White Had an Aversion to Her
Natalie Cole‘s surprise appearance in The White Lotus caught Survivor fans off guard, especially given her complex relationship with creator Mike White.
“His ability to look past our history in Fiji and invite me to participate means a lot about him as an individual,” Cole shared with Entertainment Weekly following the season 3 premiere on February 16. “At first, he thought we might never speak again.”
Cole and White, 54, clashed during their time on Survivor in 2018. White, who ended up as the runner-up, cast the pivotal vote that eliminated Cole after they found themselves on opposite sides of their tribe.
During her interview with EW, Cole noted that White’s friendship with fellow Goliath tribe member Jeremy Crawford added to the tensions between them. White believed Cole harbored resentment towards him for years following their experience on the CBS competition.
“I bumped into him at Natalia [Azoqa]‘s wedding, and he seemed to avoid eye contact with me,” she recounted. “When we finally made eye contact, I waved, and he rushed over to hug me, exclaiming, ‘I thought you were mad at me!’ I replied, ‘No, I was a bit upset initially after the show, but it’s a game, and I’ve accepted that. I’m good now.’”
Cole and White maintained their connection as the executive producer’s HBO series skyrocketed in popularity. The White Lotus, which premiered in 2021, centers on the experiences of guests and staff at a fictional resort as they navigate various personal struggles during their vacations. The anthology show is also notable for its enigmatic deaths that are revealed at the conclusion of each season.
“We kept in touch, and then he said, ‘If I get a third season, would you consider appearing?’” Cole recalled. “I was like, ‘Sure,’ but I didn’t think he was being serious because Mike had a difficult time with me in Fiji.”
She added, “I wouldn’t reach out to him, but he reached out to me, actually texting, ‘Remember our conversation about you joining the show if I had a third season?’ Then I hesitated and said, ‘Wait, Mike. Season 2 was pretty raunchy.’ I was worried about the explicit content.”
White helped Cole feel comfortable considering the project. Ultimately, she appeared alongside fellow Survivor alum Carl Boudreaux as guests at the White Lotus Thailand.
“Then he brought Carl into the mix and mentioned that Carl would play my husband. I thought, ‘Alright, there’s some comedic element to this,’” she reflected. “Initially, it was just supposed to be a cameo, but when we discussed it further, he sent me lines. I ended up with many lines, and when we arrived, he even expanded my role. I found it fascinating that I transitioned from a cameo to being featured in multiple episodes.”
Cole was delighted to discover her character mirrored her real-life personality from Survivor.
“I’ve always been true to myself, so he brought my Survivor persona back to life,” Cole reflected. “I was quite dismissive, asking, ‘Why are you speaking to me?’ while Carl was a bit more reserved. I’m the outspoken one, and that added a unique touch to our Survivor dynamic. I had more lines than Carl, and I wanted him to step up since Mike encouraged us to improvise a bit. I tried to support Carl, but he’s naturally laid back.”
New episodes of The White Lotus air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.
