Patrick Schwarzenegger ‘Was Going To Throw Up’ Filming Incestuous Kiss On ‘White Lotus’

The fifth episode of White Lotus’ season three has shocked audiences with an incestuous kiss between brothers Saxon (played by Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Lachlan (Sam Nivola).

Many viewers had already noted an uncomfortable, inappropriate relationship between the siblings throughout the preceding episodes, but the romantic energy was confirmed in a now-viral scene in which the brothers kiss while tripping on a yacht.

>MORE: PATRICK SCHWARZENEGGER RESPONDS TO BE CALLED A ‘NEPO BABY’

Actress Charlotte Le Bon, whose character Chloe pushes the brothers to kiss in the show, reflected on the filming process for the scene: “Well obviously they’re not brothers by blood, so that made it easier.”

“I think for Patrick it was really difficult. For Sam, he was kind of like, ‘It’s whatever, let’s just do it well one time and it will be over…You know?” Le Bon told Vulture. “Because if you don’t do it well the first time, then you have to do it over and over again. But Patrick’s reaction in the episode is his genuine reaction. We all thought he was going to throw up. And Sam was like, ‘It’s fine, it’s just a kiss, calm down!’”

Asked what she thought drove her character to egg the brothers on in the episode, Le Bon said, “I think Chloe is deeply, deeply bored. There’s a void inside of her. She fills that void with partying, sex and chaos… this kiss between the two brothers for her is just pure entertainment, which is obviously really evil when you think about it.”

Speaking to The New York Post, the show’s producer David Bernard shared that the characters’ relationship was not included in the show merely for “shock.”

Bernard explained, “That’s all [creator Mike White]…Mike is brilliant, and I think those big story turns are not just for shock. There’s a specific reason in terms of the narrative storytelling, and the larger thematic idea Mike is trying to get across.”

He continued, “As the season wraps up, you’ll see the purpose of that story turn… the show goes there for a larger thematic idea. I love that family storyline, especially the brother story – and it culminates in a very satisfying way.”

Acknowledging the company’s tendency towards incest storylines, MAX posted a carousel of photos from their shows featuring such relationships, writing in the caption “Family first.”

White Lotus episodes debut Sundays at 9:00 p.m. on MAX