Arnold Schwarzenegger recently expressed his surprise after witnessing his son, Patrick Schwarzenegger, star in a nude scene in the critically acclaimed HBO series The White Lotus. The father-son duo appeared together for Variety’s Actors on Actors discussion, where they tackled various topics, including the challenges of nepotism in Hollywood.
Arnold shared his initial shock upon seeing Patrick’s scene, humorously recalling, “I couldn’t believe it. I said to myself, ‘I’m watching your show, and I’m watching your butt sticking out there.’ And all of a sudden, I see the weenie. What is going on here? This is crazy.” However, he quickly reminded himself that he too had taken similar risks in his earlier roles in films such as Conan and Terminator. “It was a shock to me that you were following my footsteps so closely,” he noted.
Reflecting on Patrick’s performance, Arnold praised his son, stating, “Your acting surprised the hell out of me. Not that I didn’t know you’re good. But it was just unbelievable, the kind of stuff that you did in the show.”
In season 3 of The White Lotus, Patrick plays a wealthy finance professional on vacation in Thailand, experiencing personal turmoil after a complicated family incident. He previously shared how his family’s reactions varied when watching the series together. Arnold found the humor in it, while Patrick’s mother, Maria Shriver, was left bewildered, and his fiancée, Abby Champion, was noticeably flustered.
Arnold’s comments about Patrick’s nude scene came after he attended the season 3 premiere, where he remarked on social media that while he was surprised by his son’s scene, he couldn’t deny that “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
During their discussion, Patrick also touched on the challenges of navigating the industry as a “nepo baby” and revealed that he considered using a different name to separate his career from his parents’ fame. Arnold supported his son’s choice to keep his name, suggesting that if Patrick proves himself, the stigma of nepotism will fade. Arnold referenced actors like Jamie Lee Curtis as examples of talent overcoming perceptions linked to family connections.
This candid look into their relationship and the entertainment industry highlights a positive narrative regarding familial support and the strengths that come from working hard to establish one’s identity, even when starting from a place of privilege.
The enduring bond between Arnold and Patrick encapsulates the journey of individual growth within the backdrop of Hollywood’s demanding landscape.