‘White Lotus’ Actor Fears Lawsuit After Breaking NDA Over Shocking Sex Scene

Sam Nivola is no stranger to keeping secrets, but when it came to his jaw-dropping sex scene in "The White Lotus" Season 3, even he couldn’t keep everything under wraps.

Nivola, the real-life son of actors Alessandro Nivola and Emily Mortimer, plays Lochlan Ratliff, the youngest child of Victoria (Parker Posey) and Timothy (Jason Isaacs).

On a luxe family vacation in Thailand, Sam Nivola's character seeks guidance from his older brother Saxon, played by Patrick Schwarzenegger, on dating and confidence, but their brotherly bonding takes an unexpectedly dark and twisted turn.

Warning: This story contains spoilers for “The White Lotus” Season 3.

In a recent interview with Variety, the 21-year-old actor revealed he broke a nondisclosure agreement by giving his parents and girlfriend a heads-up about one of the show’s most shocking scenes.

“I told my parents, but I haven’t told my sister. She’s bad at keeping secrets,” Nivola said with a laugh, admitting, “I was not supposed to have told anyone” due to signing “a lot of NDAs.”

Among those clued in? His girlfriend, Iris Apatow, who was on set in Thailand while the cast filmed the buzzy third season. “She was there while we were shooting it. That’s about it,” he said, before joking, “I’m really scared about getting sued by HBO.”

In Episode 5, Lochlan and Saxon, intoxicated and high while partying with resort guests Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) and Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon), share a kiss, not once, but twice, during a game of dares. But it’s in Episode 6 that the gravity of the night’s events comes to light. A flashback reveals that Lochlan had sex with Chloe while Saxon lay beside them.

At one point, Lochlan reaches over and gives his brother a hand job.

Nivola didn’t shy away from discussing how difficult the scene was to film, telling Variety he was “totally nervous,” especially considering the close friendship he had developed with Schwarzenegger during production.

“It was very weird kissing Patrick because he’s a really good friend of mine. And, you know, I’m straight, he’s straight. It’s already weird,” he explained, adding, “It felt sort of f-cked up.”

Sam Nivola’s jaw-dropping storyline isn’t the only moment heating up Season 3 of "The White Lotus." Fans were blindsided by an unexpected, and wildly explicit, guest appearance from Oscar-winner Sam Rockwell in Episode 5, sending social media into a collective spiral.

Rockwell, who has never shied away from bold performances, delivered one of the series’ most talked-about moments to date, thanks to a surprise monologue that was as NSFW as it was thought-provoking. Appearing opposite Walton Goggins’ eccentric and often erratic character Rick, Rockwell portrayed a shady weapons dealer with a complicated past, and some very surprising revelations.

Though Rockwell is the longtime partner of White Lotus newcomer Leslie Bibb (who plays wholesome Texas mom Kate), the real-life couple never shares screen time. Instead, Rockwell’s character appears during Rick’s mysterious solo excursion to Bangkok, a side plot that has quickly become a fan favorite.

The scene opens with Rick arriving at a nondescript Bangkok hotel, where he’s greeted by Rockwell’s character, a duffle bag in tow, and a serious look on his face. While Rick seems to expect a wild night of partying and debauchery, things take an unexpected turn.

“I took the partying thing as far as it can go,” Rockwell’s character says with calm finality, revealing that he’s gotten sober and embraced Buddhism. Rick, stunned, responds, “Yeah, you did always take it to the next level. I kind of figured we’d be doing that tonight.”

Instead, Rockwell offers Rick the mysterious duffle bag with the ominous line: “I also wanted to bring you what you asked for. Hope you don’t have to use that.”

But it’s what comes next that sent "White Lotus" fans into a frenzy.

In a raw, vulnerable moment, Rockwell’s character begins reflecting on his years of indulgence in Thailand, years spent chasing pleasure, women, and something deeper.

“Maybe what I really want is to be one of these Asian girls,” he confesses, delivering the line with such layered emotion that it struck viewers like a thunderbolt.

The monologue immediately sparked a wave of reactions online, with fans praising Rockwell’s fearless performance and debating the meaning behind his character’s existential revelation.

The "White Lotus" has built its reputation on pushing boundaries and blending dark humor with twisted drama, and Season 3 looks to be no exception.

With Nivola’s character at the center of one of its most unsettling moments, the young actor may have broken an NDA, but he’s also made an unforgettable entrance into HBO’s most provocative ensemble yet.

The "White Lotus" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.