Patrick Schwarzenegger gets roasted after denying nepotism in ‘The White Lotus’ casting: "It’s giving first world problems"

Patrick Schwarzenegger, son of Hollywood legend Arnold Schwarzenegger and reporter Maria Shriver, has been in the spotlight recently after landing a leading role in the third season of HBO's award-winning series The White Lotus.

Rather than simply reveling in the spotlight of his success, though, Schwarzenegger is confronting the backlash against his casting that came on account of his household name.

Talking to Variety, he claimed:

“I know there are people who’ll say I only got this role because of who my dad is”.

He continued -

“They’re not seeing that I’ve had 10 years of acting classes, put on school plays every week, worked on my characters for hours on end or the hundreds of rejected auditions I’ve been on.”

“Of course, it’s frustrating and you can get boxed in and you think at that moment, I wish I didn’t have my last name. But that’s a small moment.”

Social media isn’t exactly handing Schwarzenegger a tissue and saying, “There, there.” Instead, his confession has sparked a whole new wave of savage roasts and top-tier comedy.

Serving a roast, a user stated:

"Reminds me of when Kendall Jenner was crying cause she said that her family name had nothing to do with helping her become a model😭 if nepo babies owned it and said “yeah I got in cause of my connections” I feel liken it wouldnt be that serious. It’s giving first world problems."

One user mentioned:

"Imagine thinking 10 years of acting classes erases a last name that opens every door for you."

Another X user said:

"Oh boo hoo I feel so bad for you.😂"

A user went on to explain:

"So tired of this trope we get it you worked hard it doesn’t negate the fact that they’ll consider you over others just for the name from The get-go."

A user joked:

"But he only got ‘The White Lotus’ role because of his dad!"

One user suggested:

"So change your last name"

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The nepotism debate

Public scrutiny of nepotism in Hollywood intensified during recent years as the masses evaluated "nepo babies" – children born to famous celebrities who pursue entertainment careers.

Actor Patrick Schwarzenegger, who plays Saxton Ratliff in The White Lotus, has caught the attention of critics regarding his inherited position in entertainment.

Critics contend that his family ties were instrumental in getting the role, something Schwarzenegger strongly denies.

In the interview, Schwarzenegger reiterated that such judgments ignore his lengthy preparation and passion for acting, such as more than a decade of acting courses, various school productions, and hundreds of auditions.

Schwarzenegger has admitted that sometimes the burden of his surname is too much.

He has spoken about times when he feels frustrated, wishing he did not have his well-known surname, feeling trapped by the incessant identification with his parents' celebrity.

But he also explains that such feelings are transient and that he appreciates the life he has.

"I wouldn't trade my life with anyone".

Arnold Schwarzenegger has been a staunch defender of his son's career. He was present at the premiere of The White Lotus Season 3 and took to Instagram to state:

“I was so pumped to take a break from filming to celebrate [Patrick Schwarzenegger] at the ‘White Lotus’ Season 3 premiere. What a show! I could claim to be surprised to find out he has a nude scene, but what can I say – the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Don’t miss it this Sunday – trust me.”

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Career background of Patrick Schwarzenegger

Patrick Schwarzenegger entered the entertainment business at a very early age.

The Benchwarmers served as Patrick Schwarzenegger's first acting project as he took up the part of "Jock Kid Game #3" in 2006.

He has established himself as an actor/producer through major movie roles, including Stuck in Love (2012), Grown Ups 2 (2013) as well as Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015).

The actor moved from the silver screen to television appearances, including Scream Queens (2015), The Long Road Home (2017), The Staircase (2022) as well as The Terminal List (2022).

His most recent prominent acting project was American Sports Story (2024) with Ryan Murphy, where he played professional quarterback Tim Tebow.

The White Lotus character position has become his most notable work among his numerous credits in the industry. The third season of the show has created social discourse, especially because of Schwarzenegger's appearance in nude scenes.

During an interview, Schwarzenegger confessed his ignorance about the extent of nudity in the scene when he initially committed to the project.

Schwarzenegger told Deadline in an interview:

“I didn't know to what extent [there would be nakedness]. You do the auditions but you don't see the full script so you don't have all the details, then they ask you, 'Are you comfortable with nudity?' when you sign on.”