Jacob Elordi responded to the widespread backlash over a controversial scene in the 2023 film Saltburn, criticizing what he called a prudish audience reaction. The moment involving Barry Keoghan’s character Oliver drinking bathwater from a scene with Elordi’s Felix sparked intense discussions and viral responses, but Elordi found the shock misplaced. The actor voiced his thoughts on the reaction during a November 6 interview with Entertainment Weekly, highlighting inconsistency in what audiences find disturbing and acceptable.
Elordi Addresses the Unexpected Outrage
Reflecting on the public’s reaction, Elordi expressed that the intense discomfort around the Saltburn scene points to broader societal prudishness. He said,
“I actually think it shows me just how, I guess, prudish we are.”
He argued that compared to other films featuring more graphic or extreme content, the scene was relatively mild. Elordi mentioned,
“When I watch that, I just think there’s far more extreme things in cinema that I’ve seen, far more graphic.”
Comparing Sexual Taboo to More Disturbing Media
Elordi contrasted audience shock over the Saltburn moment with the lack of similar revulsion towards violent crime documentaries, which frequently feature graphic gore. He highlighted this disparity by stating,
“There’s more alarming things in the top 10 streamed remakes of crime documentaries on every streaming platform.”
Elordi found it troubling that the public seems more disturbed by a sexual taboo in fiction than by violent images, adding,
“I think that’s much more alarming, the kind of horrible joy that we all get from watching children be mutilated. That’s what was interesting to me.”
Challenging Audience Comfort Zones
The actor commented on how a slight deviation from traditional sexual norms prompts significant discomfort. He noted,
“I was like, here’s a piece of fiction with something just a little taboo, and that makes people’s skin crawl. It’s an interesting parallel.”
This observation underlines Elordi’s view that cultural attitudes remain conservative when it comes to certain depictions of sexuality, even as viewers readily consume more violent content.
Elordi’s Connection to the Controversial Scene
From the beginning, Elordi was intrigued by the bathtub scene, sharing in an interview with Stream Wars,
“I was just really excited when I read that scene because you don’t really see things like that in mainstream movies a lot of the time.”
The scene clearly resonated with him as a unique and bold storytelling moment.
Emerald Fennell’s Role in Pushing Boundaries
Elordi praised the film’s writer and director, Emerald Fennell, for daring to include a provocative moment that forced viewers to confront their own discomfort. He said,
“So it’s just great that Emerald was allowed to kind of push those boundaries and expose people like that,”
recognizing her influence in shaping a film that challenges conventional limits on-screen.
The debate surrounding the Jacob Elordi Saltburn scene reveals ongoing tensions around sexual content in mainstream cinema versus the acceptance of graphic violence. Elordi’s comments invite reflection on why some viewers respond more strongly to taboo sexual material than to explicit violent imagery, highlighting cultural inconsistencies. As audiences and filmmakers continue to navigate these boundaries, Saltburn’s controversial moment may influence how future films address sensitive subjects.
