Mike White Slams ‘White Lotus’ Composer Quitting: “A B**** Move, He Didn’t Respect Me”

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Following the conclusion of the third season finale for HBO’s “The White Lotus,” its creator, Mike White, is opening up about the series’ Emmy-winning composer choosing to leave the program.

During an interview with Howard Stern on Tuesday, it was mentioned that Cristóbal Tapia de Veer will not be returning for season four of the HBO drama, following a disagreement with Bryan White regarding the show’s music. In a statement to The New York Times last week, Tapia de Veer announced his departure, stating, “Our final argument is now behind us forever.

White expressed, “I’m not sure what transpired, but now I find myself reading his interviews as he embarks on a public relations stunt regarding his exit from the show. I don’t believe he held me in high regard. He seems to want people to perceive him as rebellious and mysterious, while I, well, I enjoy watching reality TV. Our disagreements were minimal. He claimed we had feuds, but I can’t recall a single argument with him – apart from perhaps some emails. It was mostly me offering suggestions for improvement. I suspect he didn’t appreciate my feedback or the need for revisions because he didn’t value my opinion. I knew he wasn’t a team player and wanted to do things his own way. It took me aback that he would vent about me and the show to The New York Times just three days before the finale. It felt rather underhanded.

White had mentioned that de Veer posed challenges during the initial two seasons. “However, by the third season, he had garnered Emmys and his song went viral, which led him to not wish to engage in the process with me anymore, avoiding meetings and sessions. Whenever we crossed paths, he would give me a disdainful smirk, as if I was an inferior being to him, like a monkey or something… it seems like he’s overblowing a creative disagreement.

Amazed, Stern questioned: “You’re the mastermind of this project. Why step down from a successful series due to a few suggestions and disagreements? Can’t you iron out the differences instead?

White responded, “He’s incredibly talented, but I’ve never worked so hard to curry favor just to guide the horse to water. Enjoy your future endeavors.

As a gamer, I can relate to de Veer’s sentiments. In the spotlight, I might have been too intense or pushy, and perhaps my teammate felt that I wasn’t always cooperative. But let me tell you, when we won those awards and the game reached new heights of popularity, it was all worth it. That’s what I’m most proud of – the struggle was good, and it pushed us to create something exceptional. Despite having fewer allies, I stood my ground and made it happen.

In its third season, the show set new ratings highs. At the same time, creator David Benioff and D.B. Weiss mentioned they’re in discussions about renewing their deal with HBO as they prepare for the fifth season. Howard Stern then probed about the potential earnings associated with the upcoming season.

As a gamer, I’m eagerly waiting to learn the figure they’re discussing. Financially, I feel quite secure, but there comes a time when one wonders if accumulating more wealth might lead to complications or even dysfunction. Is having a larger stash of coins just going to make me more burdened with managing it?

Certainly, Stern questioned White about the controversial “incest storyline” involving Patrick Schwarzenegger and Sam Nivola’s fictional siblings on the show, to which White acknowledged that, to an extent, they were aiming to create a stir and attract attention with this particular plotline.

In the series, there’s a common plot device where gay relationships are used as unexpected or startling moments. The creator stated, ‘We felt it necessary to create such a device. Since we had explored faux incest in season two, perhaps we should delve into real incest. The shock value was appealing, but our goal was to develop Patrick’s character [played by Saxon]. What event could cause him to alter his sexual behavior drastically? I was brainstorming a way that would be consistent with his character. It would certainly spark conversation. Once we selected Patrick and Sam for the roles, I informed them, ‘You both have the option to withdraw from this role, as it involves gay incest.’

White mentioned that he’s been going through all the reviews about the finale and has felt a little troubled by the (slightly negative) comments he’s encountered.

As the show gains popularity, I’ve noticed a shift in some criticism that feels harsher than before. I’m accustomed to being the indie writer who people root for, and sometimes constructive feedback can feel personal or misinterpreted. It seems like the harsh comments have become more intense. Maybe I need to filter out such negativity or develop a thicker skin, as it does dampen my spirits.

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You can now watch The White Lotus season two on Max. For all the latest updates on season three, such as our exclusive oral history featuring the cast and creator, a comprehensive finale analysis, and interviews with Jon Gries, Aimee Lou Wood, and Scott Glenn, head over to THR’s coverage.

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2025-04-08 18:24