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People Are Exhausted By Patrick Schwarzenegger’s Latest Comments About Nepotism, And I’m Gonna Need To Know Your Thoughts

Ellen Durney
·6-min read

You probably know Patrick Schwarzenegger. He’s been in big shows like The Staircase and Gen V, and now, he’s back on our screens playing the frankly detestable finance bro that is Saxon Ratliff in Season 3 of The White Lotus.

Steve Granitz / FilmMagic, HBO / Fabio Lovino

It doesn’t take a detective to figure out that Patrick has a pretty famous father — and a famous mom, too. He is the child of Arnold Schwarzenegger (Hollywood icon-turned-politician and businessperson) and Maria Shriver (journalist, author, and member of the Kennedy family).

Emma Mcintyre / Getty Images, Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic for HBO

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But, despite his familial connections being kind of hard to ignore, Patrick has denied that nepotism had anything to do with his casting in The White Lotus — the Golden Globe and Emmy-winning HBO drama that unravels the twisted secrets of privileged and wealthy vacationers.

Fabio Lovino/HBO
Fabio Lovino/HBO

“I know there are people who’ll say I only got this role because of who my dad is,” Patrick said in a new interview with the Sunday Times. “They’re not seeing that I’ve had ten years of acting classes, put on [high] school plays every week, worked on my characters for hours on end or the hundreds of rejected auditions I’ve been on.”

Person in a leather jacket with a white shirt flashes a peace sign while smiling outdoors
Person in a leather jacket with a white shirt flashes a peace sign while smiling outdoors

“Of course, it’s frustrating and you can get boxed in and you think at that moment, I wish I didn’t have my last name. But that’s a small moment,” he went on. “I would never trade my life with anyone. I’m very fortunate to have the life and family that I have, the parents I have and the lessons and values they’ve instilled in me.”

Group of five posing at a National Geographic event; three women and two men, one in a blue blazer, others in black attire
Group of five posing at a National Geographic event; three women and two men, one in a blue blazer, others in black attire

Notably, the journalist highlights that they were told not to ask Patrick about his family. However, throughout the interview, the 31-year-old made no secret of how much he’s been inspired by his dad, particularly when it came to acting at a young age, saying at one point: “He’s undoubtedly been an influence in my life.”

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As for how he wound up getting cast, Patrick recalled being intimidated by the sheer amount of people competing for the role. “I thought, there’s no way I’m going to get this, everybody is up for this,” he remembered. “I’ve been a massive fan of the show since day one. It was my dream goal, I think I manifested it.” Sometime later, he was on vacation in Idaho with his dad when he found out he landed the part.

Man in a dark suit with an open white shirt on a red carpet, posing confidently
Man in a dark suit with an open white shirt on a red carpet, posing confidently

So, you hardly need me to tell you that “nepo baby” discourse always gets people talking, particularly within the context of Hollywood. And now that Patrick’s comments on the topic have reached the general public, it’s fair to say that people have a lot of thoughts.

Man in a tailored suit with a maroon tie poses at 'The White Lotus' event backdrop
Man in a tailored suit with a maroon tie poses at 'The White Lotus' event backdrop

For starters, critics on X seem frustrated by the fact that Patrick failed to acknowledge the various nuances of his privilege. For example, his family’s wealth probably made it easier for him to access those 10 years of acting lessons from the best teachers that money can buy. And there’s no doubt that his parents’ connections will have put him in the right conversations to end up in the right audition rooms over the years, even if he didn’t end up getting cast.

Twitter: @johnholowach

Twitter: @Dana98373354390

Instagram @patrickschwarzenegger / Fabio Lovino/HBO / Twitter: @EmmaTolkin

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What’s very clear is that Patrick seemed eager to prove he worked very hard, and fans have been quick to point out that two things can be true at once — you can have worked exceptionally hard and also enjoyed privileges that offspring of non-famous people simply don’t have access to.

Instagram @patrickschwarzenegger / Fabio Lovino/HBO/  Twitter: @notcapnamerica

Getty Images / Twitter: @Brocklesnitch

Twitter: @maddiewhittle

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Amid the discourse, a number of people have pointed out the elephant in the room: Patrick’s casting is also pretty perfect. It is described in the show that his character, Saxon, “comes from money” and has grown up in immense privilege as the child of a successful businessperson. With that in mind, Patrick’s life experiences have surely enhanced his performance, too — but we’ll just have to see how the series plays out.

Three people sit on a bench, two men and a woman in the center wearing headphones. The setting seems relaxed and informal
Three people sit on a bench, two men and a woman in the center wearing headphones. The setting seems relaxed and informal

What are your thoughts on Patrick’s comments? Did he miss the mark, or are people being too harsh? Let me know. You can find his full interview with the Sunday Times here.

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