Jacob Elordi Critiques 'Prudish' Response to 'Saltburn' Bathtub Scene
Jacob Elordi expressed his view that the audience's reaction to the bathtub scene in Saltburn was overly prudish. He noted that viewers are often more disturbed by crime documentaries and violent content than by sexual scenes in films.
Elordi's Perspective on Viewer Reactions
During an interview on Entertainment Weekly's Awardist podcast, Elordi reflected on the controversial bathtub scene in Emerald Fennell's 2023 thriller. The scene features Oliver (Barry Keoghan) drinking bathwater after secretly watching Felix (Elordi) masturbate in the tub, which sparked widespread discussion online and even inspired a viral "Jacob Elordi's Bathwater" candle.
“There's more alarming things in the top 10 streamed remakes of crime documentaries on every streaming platform.”
Elordi argued that the shock caused by this scene highlights society's prudish attitude towards sex in cinema. He added:
“I actually think it shows me just how, I guess, prudish we are.”
He contrasted this with other films featuring far more graphic and extreme content.
Contrasting Attitudes Toward Violence and Sexuality
Elordi also pointed out a double standard in audience tolerance, observing that people often accept intense violence in entertainment without hesitation, which makes the backlash to the sexual elements of Saltburn seem inconsistent and confusing.
“When I watch that, I just think there's far more extreme things in cinema that I've seen, far more graphic.”
This highlights how audiences may be more comfortable with violent content than sensual or sexual themes.
Author's Summary
Jacob Elordi criticizes the prudish response to a sexual scene in Saltburn, emphasizing society’s greater acceptance of graphic violence over intimate moments in film.