In a podcast conversation with Andrew Sullivan, “White Lotus” creator Mike White has acknowledged that Sam Rockwell‘s memorable monologue in the show’s third season stemmed from what he termed “autogynephilic” sentiment — a reference that has sparked debate given many experts consider autogynephilia a discredited anti-trans concept.
The discussion centered around a pivotal scene in Season 3, Episode 5, where Rockwell’s character Frank delivers an introspective speech to Walton Goggins‘ character Rick Hatchett. The scene has since generated a popular internet meme featuring Goggins’ stunned facial expression, now widely used online as a reaction to oversharing.
During the podcast, White expanded on his thematic intentions, stating:
“The show this season is using these Buddhist concepts to talk about identity, this idea of desire, where does it come from?”
He continued by exploring gender dynamics:
“It’s very clear for some people that, you know, it’s like, you know, a masculine man sees in a woman, this feminine thing that he doesn’t have, and he’s trying to get that… we’re made into two genders.”
When discussing the scene specifically, White directly referenced the controversial concept:
“You talk about autogynephilic or just, you know, like, you know, yeah, there’s a, each person has their own version of this.”
This acknowledgment appears to align with arguments made by Helen Lewis in The Atlantic, who suggested “The White Lotus” represents a “post-woke” perspective, a characterization some interpret as criticism of progressive identity politics.
But thematically – the entire season is about transformation. The teenage daughter is desperate to stop turning into her mother, Frank wishes he could be a ladyboy and Chelsea thinks she can change Rick and penetrate beyond his limitations.
The scene that spawned the viral meme features Frank candidly discussing his experiences in Thailand, including his struggles with sex addiction and existential questioning. In the monologue, Frank asks:
“What is desire? The form of this cute Asian girl, why does it have such a grip on me? ‘Cause she’s the opposite of me? Is she gonna complete me in some way?”
Critics of autogynephilia describe it as a pseudoscientific theory suggesting that transgender women are motivated by sexual attraction to the thought of themselves as female—a concept widely rejected by major medical and psychological organizations as both inaccurate and harmful to transgender individuals.
White’s familiarity with such terminology has surprised some viewers, particularly in light of previous reports that he removed a non-binary character from the show following Donald Trump‘s election.
The viral Goggins meme continues to circulate widely online as a reaction to uncomfortable oversharing, though now with additional context about its creator’s controversial inspirations.
Creator of White Lotus, Mike White, appears on Racist Podcast to promote Anti-Trans Conspiracy Theory
byu/neil-kinnock inFauxmoi
