Jacob Elordi criticizes 'prudish' reaction to Saltburn scene
Jacob Elordi addressed the strong reactions to the infamous bathtub scene in Emerald Fennell's 2023 thriller, Saltburn, calling them overly conservative and disproportionate.
Reaction to the controversial scene
The scene in question shows Oliver, played by Barry Keoghan, secretly observing Felix, portrayed by Elordi, in the bathtub. The moment went viral online and even sparked the creation of a "Jacob Elordi's Bathwater" candle.
Elordi's perspective
“There's more alarming things in the top 10 streamed remakes of crime documentaries on every streaming platform.”
“I actually think it shows me just how prudish we are. When I watch that, I just think there are far more extreme things in cinema that I’ve seen, far more graphic.”
Speaking on Entertainment Weekly’s Awardist podcast, Elordi, now starring in Frankenstein, suggested audiences have become strangely tolerant of graphic violence while reacting harshly to sexual content on screen.
Changing audience sensibilities
According to Elordi, society’s comfort with violent imagery over sexual intimacy reveals a selective sensitivity that distorts how art and performance are received today.
Author’s Summary: Elordi argues that the shock over Saltburn’s bathtub scene exposes modern viewers’ uneven attitudes toward depicting violence and sexuality in film.