Jacob Elordi Criticizes 'Prudish' Response to 'Saltburn' Bathtub Scene
Jacob Elordi expressed his disappointment with the public’s reaction to the bathtub scene in the 2023 thriller Saltburn. Speaking on Entertainment Weekly’s Awardist podcast, the Frankenstein star called the response “prudish” and pointed out a double standard in audience reactions towards sexual content versus violent content in film.
Controversy Surrounding the Bathtub Scene
The heated scene features Oliver (Barry Keoghan) secretly watching Felix (Elordi) masturbate in the bathtub, followed by Oliver drinking the bathwater. This moment sparked widespread discussion online and even led to the creation of a “Jacob Elordi's Bathwater” candle that gained viral attention.
Elordi’s Perspective on Audience Reactions
“I actually think it shows me just how, I guess, prudish we are,”
he said, emphasizing that the scene is mild compared to other cinematic content. He added,
“There's far more extreme things in cinema that I've seen, far more graphic.”
Elordi also highlighted that audiences often accept intense violence in films without similar outrage, making the backlash to sexual content in Saltburn seem inconsistent.
Comparing Reactions to Sex and Violence on Screen
- Sexual content in the Saltburn bathtub scene provoked shock and surprise.
- Violent content featured in popular crime documentary remakes faces less public scrutiny despite being more graphic.
“There’s more alarming things in the top 10 streamed remakes of crime documentaries on every streaming platform,”
Elordi noted, underscoring society’s contrasting tolerance levels.
Summary
Jacob Elordi challenges the overly modest public reaction to a provocative film scene, suggesting that audiences overlook much harsher cinematic violence while fixating on sexual moments.