Carrie Coon, known for her role as Laurie in Season 3 of The White Lotus, recently revealed that a significant aspect of her character's backstory was cut from the show due to the political climate following Donald Trump’s re-election. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Coon disclosed that Laurie was originally written to have a nonbinary child, which would have added depth to her character's struggles with societal issues.
The third season, set in a lavish resort in Thailand, follows a new group of privileged Americans, including Coon’s character Laurie, who is navigating a difficult phase in her life marked by divorce, an unfulfilling career, and a strained relationship with her daughter. The original storyline included Laurie's daughter, Ellie, being nonbinary and using they/them pronouns, which would have showcased Laurie's challenges in explaining her child's identity to her friends.
According to Coon, the cut scene was intended to illustrate Laurie’s struggles with language and understanding the complexities of her child’s identity. “There was a bit more context to her home life,” she explained. “You originally found out that her daughter was actually nonbinary, maybe trans, and going by they/them. You see Laurie struggling to explain it to her friends, struggling to use they/them pronouns, struggling with the language, which was all interesting.”
This storyline was particularly poignant given the political backdrop at the time. Coon noted that the season was written before the election, but after Trump won, creator Mike White decided to remove the scene, believing it was too significant a topic to handle lightly. “Considering the way the Trump administration has weaponized the cultural war against transgender people even more since then, when the time came to cut the episode down, Mike felt that the scene was so small and the topic so big that it wasn’t the right way to engage in that conversation,” Coon stated.
The implications of this decision resonate throughout the season, particularly in episode 3, where the trio of friends—Laurie, Jaclyn (played by Michelle Monaghan), and Kate (played by Leslie Bibb)—discuss political issues over dinner. Coon emphasized that the cut scene could have made Kate's admission of voting for Trump more offensive to Laurie, given her child's identity. The absence of this context transforms what could have been a deeper exploration of friendship and ideology into a more superficial exchange.
In the same episode, Laurie’s discomfort when Kate reveals her political stance reflects a protective instinct, as the Trump administration's policies have directly targeted the rights of transgender individuals. Coon remarked, “Laurie's discomfort after Kate admits to voting for Trump isn’t just a political rift, but a protective instinct.” This adds an emotional layer to the narrative, highlighting how political beliefs can strain personal relationships, especially when they intersect with issues of identity.
The decision to cut this storyline has sparked discussions about representation in media, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ identities. Coon pointed out that even a brief moment of queer representation carries weight, especially in a time when many families are navigating similar challenges. “His father wrote a very influential book about what it was like to come out as a gay man himself in the evangelical church as an adult,” Coon said, referencing Mike White's background. “So Mike doesn’t shy away from challenging cultural conversations, and I really appreciate that about his work.”
As the season progresses, fans are left to ponder how different the narrative might have been had this storyline remained intact. The cut scene could have provided a richer understanding of Laurie’s motivations and the societal pressures faced by families with nonbinary children. Coon’s insights suggest that the show, known for its sharp social commentary, might have missed an opportunity to address a significant contemporary issue in a meaningful way.
Overall, the third season of The White Lotus continues to engage viewers with its exploration of privilege, friendship, and the complexities of modern life. However, the absence of Laurie’s child’s identity raises questions about the responsibilities of creators to reflect the diverse realities of their characters. As the series unfolds, audiences are reminded of the delicate balance between storytelling and the impact of real-world events on creative decisions.
With just a few episodes remaining, the tension among the characters is palpable, and viewers are left to wonder how their relationships will evolve in light of the political and personal revelations that have surfaced. The White Lotus remains a powerful commentary on the human experience, but it also serves as a reminder of the importance of representation and the conversations that need to be had in our society today.
