The White Lotus: Gay Brotherly Kiss Sparks Debate On New Hollywood Trend

So…What’s with the sudden wave of brotherly, incestuous storylines on television?

Queer representation is essential across all industries, and while the entertainment world has long been filled with LGBTQ+ creatives behind the scenes, we’re finally seeing more authentic portrayals on-screen. No longer are we confined to the gimmicky archetypes of the past—representation has evolved beyond the flamboyant over-exaggeration of Will & Grace to something more layered, nuanced, and real. But has the pendulum swung too far?

We’re now in an era where queerbaiting runs rampant, sparking debates about its actual harm and impact. However, beyond the discourse on representation, something far stranger is happening in Hollywood.

What’s with the sudden wave of brotherly, incestuous storylines? Why are showrunners so fixated on pushing this taboo—blurring the line between discomfort and eroticism? The envelope is being pushed in unexpected ways, and it’s hard to ignore the unsettling trend that’s creeping into some of today’s most talked-about series. Let’s break down how we got here and why Hollywood seems obsessed with making family ties this uncomfortable.

The Menéndez Brothers: Were They More Than Just Brothers?

Ryan Murphy, in September (2024), brought the second installment of his Monster series to Netflix, starring Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch as Lyle and Erik Menéndez—two attractive brothers wrapped in a murder mystery laced with sexual tension and uncomfortable storylines of abuse and incest.

While storytelling often requires confronting difficult truths, and audiences are no strangers to witnessing suffering on screen, this adaptation felt oddly fetishized. Casting two conventionally attractive actors to portray the Menéndez brothers, the show seemed more focused on pushing boundaries than on the crime itself. Many viewers and media outlets became fixated on the brothers’ relationship rather than the murder at the center of the story, shifting attention from the case to an unsettling exploration of taboo.

It begs the question—are we becoming desensitized, or has our appetite for entertainment finally pushed us into territory that, in real life, would spark nothing but gossip and disgust? If we heard about a situation like this involving ordinary people, the reaction would be overwhelmingly negative. Yet, when presented within the heightened reality of a true crime drama, audiences not only accepted but embraced the exaggerated, sexualized portrayal of two real-life figures. Somehow, the controversy only fueled curiosity, drawing viewers in rather than pushing them away.

The White Lotus and Uncomfortable Family Dynamics in Modern TV

Season 3 of The White Lotus came out swinging, following two seasons that rocked HBO and built a cult following. Mike White, whom I know from Survivor (which is ridiculous considering his extensive film and television background), is arguably Ryan Murphy’s biggest competition when it comes to creating in-your-face, racy stories that challenge the status quo and push viewers out of their comfort zones. The shock value season after season has undeniably been the driving force behind the series’ huge success.

We got the triumphant return of Jennifer Coolidge in the first two seasons, with a rotating cast of iconic actors, giving us a new series to crave—not just weekly, but even during the time it’s off-air. I’ll admit, I didn’t patiently wait for Season 3’s return; I was ready for it the moment Season 2’s finale aired. The White Lotus delivers great television, and Mike White is a mastermind when it comes to story development, crafting something that’s not often seen on TV. He’s truly a creative force.

This season, we’re introduced to a new family, the Ratliffs. Instantly, you get the vibe that this motley crew is inspired by Bravo’s Southern Charm, which isn’t surprising since Mike White has often drawn inspiration from reality TV. Whether it’s The Real Housewives, Survivor, or his deep love for Bravo, reality shows have clearly shaped the way he builds his characters. This tribute to real people helps make the characters not only relatable but also familiar.

The Ratliff family of five consists of Timothy Ratliff, played by Jason Isaacs, who clearly draws inspiration from Thomas Ravenel; his wife, Victoria, portrayed by Parker Posey, who channels Patricia Altschul, the matriarch of Southern Charm‘s ensemble cast. Rounding out the family are Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), and Lochlan (Sam Nivola). You can see rough glimpses of their Southern Charm counterparts in the way these characters are written, but they quickly become more than just replicas—they’re polarizing in their own right, with a chaotic energy that feels uniquely their own.

Patrick Schwarzenegger leads the charge in discomfort with his extremely direct and sexual verbal interactions toward—and about—his siblings. And if that wasn’t enough, the first episode wrapped up with an unforgettable, highly discussed moment: Saxon stripping down in front of his watching brother Lochlan, revealing a glimpse of his butt. This scene set the tone for a narrative that made everyone wonder—what exactly is going on here?

Patrick Schwarzenegger’s Saxon and the Sexual Tension 

Let’s keep it real—Patrick Schwarzenegger is hot, and his spicy behavior is extremely welcomed. The mystery of will they or won’t they, the endless internet conversations in comment sections, wondering if all the kids are adopted—the constant questioning about what’s going on is simply because of the nature of their dialogue and the conversations being had. But in a world where we’re fetishizing the Menéndez brothers and honestly, anything Game of Thrones, we’re getting used to the taboo nature of incestuous relationships, especially on networks like HBO.

Saxon isn’t leaving much to the imagination. Episode after episode, his provocative behavior keeps leading us down a road we’re not sure we want to go down. But it isn’t stopping the ratings, and it’s keeping us glued to every crude and outrageous thing that comes out of his mouth. His obsession with getting Lochlan laid and his commentary on his sister possibly being a virgin—he oozes sexual misconduct and privilege, and it screams future scandal.

It’s still unclear whether Saxon is secretly queer or just perverse by nature, but the road we’re on, and where we’ve already gone, has us all wondering and asking more questions than we ever thought we would.

The White Lotus Brother Kiss Shocks Viewers on the Yacht

Things started to get wilder when the majority of the cast joined last season’s Greg (Jon Gries) on his super yacht for a day-long party adventure that took the group from the hotel and onto the waters of Thailand. The day was filled with drinking, partying, and sneaking away into an oasis of mayhem. Up until this point, the majority of the characters hadn’t interacted much outside of their immediate vacation groups. The yacht, however, provided an opportunity for everyone to let loose and truly become the unhinged characters we knew they were about to turn into.

Saxon’s personal goal throughout the season is to help his younger brother become a “man” and, well, get laid. The yacht, filled with young women and their sugar daddy partners, husbands, or boyfriends, unlocked the perfect opportunity for Saxon to push his inappropriate agenda, and test the waters. 

As soon as they set sail, it was clear that Saxon’s intent was to bring Lochlan out of his shell. Saxon immediately began getting his 18-year-old brother drunk and loosened up, among other substances that were later introduced in the next episode.

Episode 5 dove right into the provocative nature the storyline had been leading toward, with the brothers at a now drug-fueled party. Saxon dared Lochlan and another yacht guest, Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon), to kiss, which led the women and other guests to dare the brothers to return the favor and kiss each other. What started off as a brief interaction soon escalated, with the brothers encouraged to continue, resulting in a much longer, more complex kiss. Surprisingly, it was the youngest brother, Lochlan, who initiated the redo. Leaving Saxon the one giving off vibes that we have yet to really decipher. 

Are Saxon and Lochlan Gay or Just Pushing Boundaries?

What it boils down to is that it’s strange we’re watching what seems like an incestuous story between two biological brothers. But the curiosity of the narrative, the audience’s captivation, and the conversations surrounding this storyline are undeniable. People are tuned in and eager to know more. The White Lotus, by extension Mike White, is giving Ryan Murphy a run for his money when it comes to pushing boundaries and crafting outrageous content. This series is pushing limits, and one thing is certain—The White Lotus is here to stay.

Patrick Schwarzenegger as Saxon Ratliff is becoming iconic television. He’s bared it all—from his acting to his assets—and if nothing else, the queerbaiting is proving worth the watch, as we get to know this up-and-coming actor, and son of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Show producer David Bernad has teased that there’s much more to come with the kiss, stressing that it will play a pivotal role and delve into a deeper narrative with purpose beyond mere shock value. He promised that the storyline would resolve in a “very satisfying” way as the season progresses, with the kiss being integral to the characters’ development.

The White Lotus Escalates: Saxon & Lochlan’s Threesome Shocks Viewers

Maybe we were too early in breaking the news about The White Lotus brothers Saxon and Lochlan sharing a kiss under the influence of ecstasy—because, in the very next episode, Mike White takes things even further.

Lochlan ultimately loses his virginity to Chloe, but with a twist—his brother Saxon isn’t left out of the experience. The two siblings engage in a threesome, with Saxon pleasuring himself on the sidelines as Lochlan and Chloe hook up. However, the true shock comes later in the episode when it’s revealed that Lochlan was actively getting his brother off the entire time.

The internet was already in an uproar over the kiss—but now, things have taken a drastic turn. Some fans are drawing comparisons to Game of Thrones, pointing out how viewers largely accepted Jaime and Cersei Lannister’s incestuous relationship throughout the HBO series. But does the dynamic change when it’s The White Lotus‘ Lochlan and Saxon? Is it a question of execution, character innocence, or simply discomfort with seeing the taboo pushed even further? Is a hand job too much? 

So, where do you stand on Hollywood’s new obsession with brotherly love rooted in incest? Is it damaging to the queer community, going against everything we’ve worked toward in creating a world where being gay isn’t equated with perversion? Or is it simply an interesting story—a messed-up family on a messed-up show—diving into the insanity that the characters were designed to portray, all in the name of entertainment? Leave a comment and share your thoughts!