Jacob Elordi Criticizes 'Prudish' Reaction to Saltburn Scene
Jacob Elordi has spoken out about the public response to the controversial bathtub scene in Emerald Fennell's 2023 thriller Saltburn. In a conversation on Entertainment Weekly’s Awardist podcast, the actor reflected on the strong reactions and the wider cultural attitude toward sexuality in cinema.
Elordi’s View on Audience Reactions
"There’s more alarming things in the top 10 streamed remakes of crime documentaries on every streaming platform."
The Frankenstein star expressed surprise at how much attention the scene received, pointing out that audiences regularly consume far more disturbing content in other forms of media. He explained that the scene, in which Oliver (Barry Keoghan) secretly watches Felix (Elordi) in the bathtub, sparked an outsized reaction online and even inspired a viral “Jacob Elordi’s Bathwater” candle.
Comment on Cultural Standards
"I actually think it shows me just how prudish we are," he said. "When I watch that, I just think there are far more extreme things in cinema that I’ve seen, far more graphic."
Elordi suggested that viewers are often unbothered by graphic violence but quick to react to sexual scenes, revealing what he sees as an imbalance in societal comfort levels between depictions of sex and violence in popular media.
Summary
Elordi argues that the backlash to Saltburn’s bathtub scene exposes society’s discomfort with sexual content, despite its tolerance for violence on screen.