Behind The Scenes: ‘The White Lotus' Lore Is Beyond Messy

When news broke that the cast of hit TV show, The White Lotus, cast was paid the same salary, viewers believed the cast would have no qualms. Little did they know, the Mike White produced series has juicy lore.

First, news broke that actor Patrick Schwarzenegger, who plays Saxon Ratliff, was a nepo baby -- no big deal. Between his sexually deviant character and finding out his father was the Arnold Schwarzenegger, former governor of California, viewers were ready to fall in love. Until they discovered his alleged support for a certain fascist politician.

apparently Patrick Schwarzenegger is a big ol trumpie so nvm pic.twitter.com/WzliWnbPoH

— michael (@honeymunes) February 18, 2025

Then, as the series developed, fans suspected that Aimee Wood, who plays Chelsea, and Walton Goggins, who plays Rick, seemed to be besties... before she unfollowed him everywhere but his Google glasses account --if you know, you know.

what do you mean walton goggins posted the entire silver springs song with pictures of him with aimee?? each pic continuing the rest of the song. just them.
all of that coming from this guy who’s married, and said that aimee is his soulmate. pic.twitter.com/DOeFr0WWhe

— mariana (@nickmrller) April 7, 2025

walton goggins wife watching him post a 17 pictures of him and aimee lou wood in his stories set to silver springs in addition to making an actual post with 11 pictures of them together quoting aeschylus speaking about pain in the heart pic.twitter.com/pK3X3KjScc

— ani (@beaarthur85) April 7, 2025

As the series finale aired, die-hard fans were split. Some labeled the final episode as boring while others spewed fan theories. However, the show's producer had a few words.
"The pacing and the vibe… it definitely gets under their skin," he spoke of critics. "There was complaining about how there’s no plot. That part I find weird. It never did… part of me is just like bro, this is the vibe. I’m world-building," he said.

"If you don’t want to go to bed with me then get out of my bed. I’m edging you! Enjoy the edging. If you don’t want to be edged, then get out of my bed. Do you know what I mean? Don’t be a bossy bottom. Get the fuck out of my bed. Don’t come home with me. Don’t get naked in my bed. Get the fuck out of my bed."

A diva.

View fan reactions below.

Not Carrie Coon delivering that Emmy-worthy monologue about friendship only to leave them to die once the shooting started lmao #TheWhiteLotus pic.twitter.com/joee9JQwl2

— xule (@20051628lch) April 7, 2025

saw who patrick schwarzenegger follows on social media pic.twitter.com/x7NauzvQKR

— matt (@computer_gay) February 17, 2025

the guy who makes the White Lotus themes just did an interview with the NYT announcing that he's leaving the show because of how Mike White wanted the music and released the "uncut" version of the season 3 theme that includes the extension of the beat drop we all wanted lol pic.twitter.com/PJi7oWRVzc

— manny (@mannyfidel) April 3, 2025

finally started the white lotus season 3 and patrick schwarzenegger i wasn’t familiar with your game pic.twitter.com/QYDGknDvmw

— Sarah (@sydglenx) February 24, 2025

patrick schwarzenegger tried to reheat his nachos but he over cooked them and they burned :( pic.twitter.com/neKp5oTrB8

— aram