Jacob Elordi Calls ‘Saltburn’ Bathwater Scene Backlash ‘Prudish’

Actor Jacob Elordi has criticized the intense reaction to a now-infamous scene in the film Saltburn. The scene involves his character’s bathwater. Elordi described the public response as surprisingly “prudish.”

He made these comments on Entertainment Weekly‘s Awardist podcast. The star argued that cinema contains far more graphic content. He finds the focus on this fictional taboo moment telling.

Star Questions Viewer Hypocrisy Over Violence vs. Taboo

Elordi directly compared the bathtub scene to other popular media. He pointed to true-crime documentaries that often feature real violence. According to the actor, that content is more alarming.

He expressed confusion over the different public reactions. People are horrified by a stylized scene about desire. Yet they readily consume stories about real mutilation and murder. This parallel fascinates him.

Director Emerald Fennell Built Film Around Central Image

The film was directed by Oscar-winner Emerald Fennell. She has previously stated the bathtub image was the story’s starting point. It symbolized the main character’s extreme, unacknowledged desire.

For Fennell, the scene defined the unreliable narrator. It showed a person in the grip of obsession. The act was a physical manifestation of that hidden longing. The scene remains the film’s controversial centerpiece.

The debate highlights shifting audience sensitivities. Jacob Elordi’s defense questions what truly disturbs us. The Saltburn bathtub scene continues to spark conversation about art and taste.

Thought you’d like to know

What is the ‘Saltburn’ bathtub scene?

In the scene, Barry Keoghan’s character Oliver drinks the bathwater after Jacob Elordi’s character Felix uses the tub. It is a pivotal moment showing Oliver’s obsessive fascination with Felix and his world.

Why did Jacob Elordi call reactions ‘prudish’?

Elordi believes audiences react strongly to a fictional taboo while accepting graphic real violence in other media. He finds this selective outrage interesting and somewhat hypocritical.

Who directed ‘Saltburn’?

The film was written and directed by Emerald Fennell. She is known for her work on *Promising Young Woman*, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

How did audiences initially react to the scene?

The scene generated massive online discussion and shock. Many viewers called it the most memorable and disturbing moment in the film, fueling its viral popularity on social media.

What was the director’s intention for the scene?

Emerald Fennell said the image was the first concept for the film. It was meant to visually portray the protagonist’s extreme, repressed desire and his unreliable narration of events.