¡®I felt so guilty¡¯: Patrick Schwarzenegger on White Lotus and why he ¡®wished¡¯ for Saxon¡¯s death
Patrick Schwarzenegger said he felt guilty that his White Lotus character lived while Aimee Lou Wood¡¯s character died. He wished Saxon had taken the bullet instead. He talked about fans hating his role at first, then changing their minds. Patrick also shared he¡¯s working on new shows and films soon.
Patrick Schwarzenegger just dropped a confession that fans of The White Lotus probably weren¡¯t expecting and it¡¯s surprisingly emotional.
In a recent chat on Today with Jenna & Friends, the 31-year-old actor admitted he¡¯s been feeling seriously guilty about how things ended in the season three finale. Specifically? He wishes his character, Saxon, had taken the bullet instead of Aimee Lou Wood¡¯s character, Chelsea.
¡®I was telling her that I felt so guilty,¡¯ he said. ¡®I wanted this arc for Saxon where I told her, ¡°I wish I took the bullet for you. I wish I came at the end and saved you or something, this beautiful moment.¡±¡¯
Patrick went on to call Aimee ¡®such a great friend on set and so much fun to work with¡¯, which made the fictional loss all the more personal for him.
Patrick went on to call Aimee ¡®such a great friend on set and so much fun to work with¡¯, which made the fictional loss all the more personal for him. (Credit: Instagram)
Audience really hated Saxon
During the same interview, Patrick mentioned that viewers had a strong and possibly hostile response to Saxon in the beginning. Saxon was brought in as a privileged racist rich kid, but by the end of the season, he grew to be a more contemplative and spiritual character.
¡®I was disliked. I was severely hated,¡¯ Patrick admitted. ¡®And I told people, you know, ¡°Just wait. It¡¯s only three episodes, the show¡¯s eight episodes¡ªlet the character arc build.¡±¡¯
Street reactions were intense
Patrick recalled walking around New York in the early weeks of the series airing and getting very direct feedback from fans.
¡®When I was walking the streets of New York in the first weeks, people were like, ¡°Oh, I hate you. I love to hate your character¡±,¡¯ he said.
But that changed as the season progressed. ¡®Now it¡¯s sweet to see people saying how much they love Saxon,¡¯ he added.
What¡¯s next for Patrick?
With The White Lotus behind him, Patrick is turning his attention to new projects. He¡¯s currently in discussions for a psychological thriller and a limited series that would see him playing a darker, more morally ambiguous role.
He¡¯s also taking early steps into producing, with a few smaller projects in development. While the future¡¯s still unfolding, it¡¯s clear Patrick is exploring new territory, both on and off screen.
Kriti Shukla is a lifestyle journalist with over two years of experience, writing about celebrity fashion, beauty, and culture. She covers trends both on and off the red carpet, with a sharp editorial eye and a knack for spotting what¡¯s current. Based in Delhi, Kriti blends her love for glamour and culture with a deep understanding of the zeitgeist.
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