Jacob Elordi Criticizes 'Prudish' Response to Saltburn Bathtub Scene
Jacob Elordi addressed the strong reactions to the bathtub scene in Emerald Fennell’s 2023 thriller Saltburn, describing public outrage as unnecessarily prudish. Speaking on Entertainment Weekly’s Awardist podcast, the actor reflected on the controversy surrounding the scene in which his character Felix is secretly watched by Oliver, played by Barry Keoghan.
“I actually think it shows me just how prudish we are,” Elordi said. “When I watch that, I just think there are far more extreme things in cinema that I’ve seen, far more graphic.”
The scene sparked online debate and even inspired a viral “Jacob Elordi’s Bathwater” candle. Elordi contrasted the backlash with audiences’ acceptance of explicit violence in media.
“There’s more alarming things in the top 10 streamed remakes of crime documentaries on every streaming platform,” he added.
The actor, who stars in Frankenstein, suggested that the discomfort around on-screen intimacy reveals society’s double standards when it comes to depictions of sex versus violence.
Author’s Summary
Elordi argues that the reaction to Saltburn’s bathtub scene exposes society’s lingering conservatism about sexuality in film compared to its comfort with graphic violence.