White Lotus’ Walton Goggins Clarifies SNL, Aimee Lou Wood Controversy

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Walton Goggins is getting the last laugh. 

Following several months of rumors about a disagreement between him and his “White Lotus” co-star Aimee Lou Wood, the two decided to directly address these speculations. They refuted various claims, including one concerning a sketch on “Saturday Night Live” that mocked their series, with Wood expressing disapproval due to it making fun of her teeth, while Goggins had given it praise.

In the interview published with Variety on June 4, I made it clear to my friend that I had strong feelings to express, and I believe in honesty. Despite using social media for 14 years, I prefer direct communication. I’m not someone who uses social media to be cruel; I’m just a straightforward individual.

In a subsequent explanation, after removing his Instagram post, he stated that it wasn’t meant harmfully. His words were, “That’s the gist of it.

However, the assumption among fans about their friendship based on their contrasting responses to the SNL sketch wasn’t the only misconception in recent months. In fact, Goggins, who had previously traveled to Thailand following his first wife’s death before filming The White Lotus, also clarified that social media users had misunderstood why he stopped following Wood on Instagram.

The actor from “The Righteous Gemstones” shared that his emotional release in this experience was unique compared to others due to his personal history in the location. He acknowledged the hardships they’d faced together and felt the need to start coming to terms with parting ways with Rick and Chelsea, as he knew them so intimately.

He mentioned, “Since I anticipated it would take some time for me, I informed her of the situation and explained why I needed to do it. She turned out to be incredibly understanding and supportive.

Not only do the whispers about their disagreements persist, but Goggins also made it clear that there is no ongoing conflict between him and Wood.

He went on to say, ‘I’m deeply in love with this woman, and she holds a significant place in my heart.’ He then introduced her as either Goldie Hawn or Meg Ryan. ‘She is incredibly talented and capable of achieving anything,’ he added. ‘Keep an eye on the next two decades of her career. I believe I’ll be residing on a Greek island, but she stands out from the rest.’

Goggins underscored, “There’s no conflict here. She embodies love, and I firmly believe that I embody the same for her. Our feelings for each other run incredibly deep.

After the conclusion of Chelsea and Rick’s romantic journey, let’s delve into what we currently understand about season four of “The White Lotus“.

In January, it was confirmed that HBO would produce another season of “The White Lotus” (fourth season), even before its third season debuted. This decision came after the series creator, Mike White, proposed concepts for more intrigue, wealth, and chaos.

Casey Bloys, HBO’s CEO, stated to reporters in November that if Mike intends to progress and complete the four seasons, he will undoubtedly work on the final one.

Production on season four will likely kick off in 2026, according to Variety.

The big unknown is where the production team behind the show will set up shop for season 4. They’ve been giving us subtle clues without fully disclosing the location yet.

In an interview with Deadline in February, the Executive Vice President of HBO Programming, Francesca Orsi, shared that they will be exploring potential locations over the next few weeks. She cautioned that she couldn’t specify exactly where, but hinted there’s a good possibility that their project will take root somewhere within Europe.

Chances, she emphasized.

Orsi mentioned, “There are certain nations marked on our map, however, we have no updates yet as we haven’t visited those potential locations for exploration.”

Orsi pointed out, “We’ve identified some countries on the map, but we don’t have any news until we physically check out these prospective destinations.

In a post-season three finale interview with HBO, White expressed his intention to move away from the “constant crashing of waves onto rocks” style for the upcoming season.

“But,” he added, “there’s always room for more murders at the White Lotus hotels.”

Additionally, during his visit to Sydney at the Vivid Festival in June 2023, White expressed that Australia was one of his dream travel destinations.

He expressed excitement, saying, “This looks incredibly enjoyable! There’s clearly an abundance of skill and the attractiveness is undeniable, making it seem like it ticks every box.

The storyline hasn’t included a body found in the snow yet, and it seems a luxurious ski resort might not be part of our plans. As David Bernad shared with The Guardian back in February, Mike isn’t fond of cold weather conditions.

As a devoted admirer, I regretfully share that Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, the Emmy-winning composer of the captivating title themes for “White Lotus,” will not return for season four. This decision stems from creative differences he encountered with the show’s creators, dating back to its very first season.

Tapia de Veer explained to the New York Times in an interview on April 2 that the situation feels strange since a few months ago, I informed my team that I wouldn’t be returning and would be leaving. For several reasons, I chose not to tell Mike about it until later; I wanted to surprise him with the news at the last minute for maximum impact. (However, White did learn about it before the end of the season, he stated.)

Regarding the memorable theme tune composed for season one, which was reprised in season two, Tapia de Veer commented, “It seems successful afterward, but getting to that point was a tough battle” since White initially didn’t approve of it.

Instead of being instructed to revise the opening sequence for season three, he chose to do so on his own initiative – a decision that sparked significant dissatisfaction among fans.

In response to the change in theme, Tapia de Veer found herself fielding calls from TMZ, as well as individuals from England and France, eager for a comment. People were enraged by the alteration, which intrigued her. She reached out to the producer, suggesting it would be beneficial to eventually release the extended version with the “ooh-loo-loo-loos,” as viewers might react explosively when they discover it was intended all along. The producer agreed with her idea. However, Mike ultimately decided to remove that part, as he wasn’t satisfied with it.

As a die-hard admirer, let me share my take on his words: “At that moment, it felt like the final dispute between us; I sensed an end to our disagreements. So, he was simply declining any proposal.

During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show on April 8, White criticized Tapia de Veer’s behavior as underhanded or untrustworthy for publicly voicing her complaints in this manner.

White expressed that they are unsure of the circumstances surrounding the event, but have since discovered the individual is conducting a public relations campaign about departing the show. They simply feel that he did not value or respect them.

The producer explained further, saying, “We rarely had any significant disagreements.” He went on to say, “He claims there was a feud…Mostly, I was just providing suggestions.

During the initial two seasons, their teamwork proved effective as they exchanged thoughts, according to White. However, by season three, Tapia de Veer expressed a desire to work independently, declining feedback, avoid our meetings, and skipping the sessions.

And, White added, “He’s definitely making a big deal out of just a creative difference.”

White was delighted when Jon Gries, who appeared as Tanya’s enigmatic suitor Greg in the first season and her manipulative husband in the second, consented to rejoin the cast for the third season, portraying the sinister widower Gary. However, according to Gries, it seems that Gary (or perhaps Greg) has moved on, as he is aware.

However, that’s what he thought last time.

He informed The Hollywood Reporter that, although he isn’t certain about it, he probably won’t return after the end of season three, since Gary’s secret remains safe for now. All he could add was, “Every time I depart, I believe it’s the end.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I must confess, the allure of welcoming fresh faces to each resort is undeniable, as I often find myself saying, “I could raze the entire property at the close of every season and rebuild anew.” However, this strategy has proven effective in proving that if one isn’t literally six feet under…

Admitting this to The Hollywood Reporter, Mike White’s actions are unpredictable,” Gries said. “I never assumed I’d be part of season two, let alone season three. Everything he does carries an unexpected twist. Of course, I’d be thrilled to return. But does Greg’s story seem conclusive in the book? I can’t say for sure.

In any normal scenario, besides a prequel for “White Lotus” or a multiverse twist, there seems to be no means for Jennifer Coolidge’s character Tanya to reappear, except through flashbacks or dream sequences. However, since her dramatic fall from the yacht in the season two finale that revealed her as the mystery body following her being the sole character returning from season one, there has always been a lingering hope.

White acknowledges feeling the absence of Coolidge, yet remains silent on the matter of Tanya’s demise, as her good intentions, naivety, and excessive wealth were all factors in his decision to eliminate her.

On TopMob News in January 2023, following the season two finale of White Lotus, Coolidge remarked that White was “firmly committed” to his choices. “He’s an outstanding friend,” he added, “but I believe he’s made up his mind. He desired a grand, dramatic, Italian, operatic conclusion for White Lotus 2, and he was willing to sacrifice Tanya.

She made it clear that Tanya wouldn’t appear in Thailand during season three when she spoke to The New Yorker. Her words were: “I believe Tanya won’t return, so I must accept that fact.

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2025-06-05 00:19