Jacob Elordi reflected on the viral bathtub scene from the film Saltburn and criticized the internet’s prudish reaction to it. Despite the film being nearly two years old, the scene remains widely discussed.
During an appearance on the Entertainment Weekly “Awardist” podcast on November 6, Elordi, 28, addressed the most viral moment in the film. His character, Felix Catton, masturbates in a bathtub. Afterward, Barry Keoghan’s character, Oliver Quick, enters the tub, drinks the leftover bathwater, and even licks the drain.
“I actually think it shows me just how, I guess, prudish we are.”
Elordi finds the scene provocative but believes that cinema contains far more extreme and disturbing content.
He pointed out that many more alarming things can be found in popular crime documentary remakes widely streamed today.
“There’s more alarming things in the top 10 streamed remakes of crime documentaries on every streaming platform. 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.”
Elordi also expressed excitement when first reading the script written and directed by Emerald Fennell.
“I was really excited about that scene when first reading the script.”
The bathtub scene inspired a line of candles that scent like “Jacob Elordi’s Bathwater,” highlighting its lasting cultural footprint.
Author’s summary: Jacob Elordi challenges the prudish backlash to a provocative Saltburn scene, emphasizing more disturbing portrayals in popular media and sharing his initial excitement about the script.