The White Lotus Season 3 and the Hypocrisy of the Media

(Warning: This post contains spoilers for The White Lotus Season 3.)

The White Lotus has always thrived on controversy, social satire, and pushing boundaries. Season 3 is no different. But the media’s reaction to a particular scene in episode six—where the Ratcliff brothers engage in a drug-fueled sexual encounter on a yacht—exposes a deeper hypocrisy in how they engage with the very content they claim to be outraged by.

The scene in question features the younger Ratcliff brother having sex while simultaneously masturbating his older brother. The media erupted in collective shock and disgust, with headlines condemning the scene as “disturbing” and “crossing the line.” But let’s take a step back. From the very first episode, there were clear indications of an unsettling dynamic between the brothers—like the younger one lingering as his older brother announced he was going to masturbate in the bathroom, even leaving the door open as if inviting voyeurism. If the media truly found this dynamic repulsive, why didn’t the outrage begin then? Why did they continue watching?

The answer is simple: morbid curiosity kept them hooked. The gradual unraveling of the brothers’ relationship was something they couldn’t look away from. And now, after indulging in six episodes of buildup, their horror feels more like a reaction to their own guilt rather than the show itself. The media often presents itself as a moral authority, yet it consistently amplifies and capitalizes on the very content it decries.

But let’s address the elephant in the room: is the outrage really about morality, or is it rooted in something else? The incestuous relationship between Jaime and Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones—which resulted in a child—was met with far less widespread moral condemnation. Instead, it became a pop culture phenomenon, endlessly analyzed and even romanticized in certain circles. But two brothers engaging in a sexual act? Suddenly, it’s the most offensive thing television has ever produced? The double standard is glaring, and the underlying homophobia is hard to ignore.

At the end of the day, The White Lotus is known for its provocative storytelling. If you’re watching, you already know the show thrives on pushing social and sexual taboos. If this kind of content isn’t for you, then don’t watch. But don’t let your own discomfort and guilt morph into performative outrage. Because the real issue isn’t the show—it’s the hypocrisy of those who willingly consume it only to feign moral superiority afterward.