White Lotus star called out for tone deaf comments about double standards with male and female nude scenes

By Abby Amoakuh

Published Mar 17, 2025 at 01:38 PM

Reading time: 3 minutes

66820

Following a NSFW full-frontal nude scene in The White Lotus that left the internet breathless for days, British actor Jason Isaacs has made it clear—he’s had enough of the chatter about his genitalia. Speaking on CBS Mornings last Friday 14 March 2025, Isaacs argued that there’s an unfair double standard when it comes to male versus female nudity. The actor’s comments quickly sparked a larger debate online, with many netizens calling his take tone-deaf and out of touch, particularly considering the way female nudity is frequently exploited in Hollywood. So, here’s the lowdown.

During the CBS interview, presenter Gayle King brought up the online debate about Isaacs’ nude scene. For context, the English actor is most famous from his role as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter film franchise, meaning that many Gen Zers grew up watching him as a fearsome and villainous father. So, needless to say, seeing his uncovered genitalia was a rather interesting change of pace for them…

King was specifically interested in knowing whether Isaacs wore prosthetics.

Instead, Isaacs responded: “A lot of people are debating it, and it’s all over the internet. And it’s interesting, because…”

At that point, Gayle pointed out that the Harry Potter star hadn’t actually answered the question, to which he said: “I’ll tell you why. The Best Actress this year was Mikey Madison at the Oscars, and I don’t see anybody discussing her vulva, which was [on screen, in Anora] all the time—and I’m not talking about Swedish cars. You know?”

“I think it’s interesting that there’s a double standard for men, but when women are naked—Margaret Qualley, as well, in The Substance—nobody would dream of talking to them about their genitalia or nipples or any of those things,” Isaacs continued.

King’s co-anchor Tony Dokoupil then accused Jason of “dodging” the question, to which he replied: “It is a dodge because I don’t think people want to know how the sausage gets made.”

The moment ignited a heated online debate, in which many netizens either agreed or disagreed with Isaac’s stance about a double standard for male nudity.

Some noted that the way in which Isaacs was gleefully and cheerily objectified, would have been condemned, or at least critically dissected if he was a woman.

“He is feeling uncomfortable, he’s talking about it. What’s wrong?” one Reddit user asked.

However, the majority of netizens noted that Madison and Qualley were indeed incredibly open when it came to discussing the meaning and approach behind their nudity. Qualley, specifically, also confirmed the body parts that were wrapped in prosthetics throughout the shoot—spoiler alert, not her real breasts.

Fans felt like Isaacs was making an ignorant point about socially condoned misandry when it is largely female nudity that is exploited and commodified in Hollywood. It’s frequently little more than a tool to titillate audiences rather than drive the narrative forward.

Isaacs’ scene, which was widely viewed as comedic rather than sexualised, seemed quite meagre in comparison to many of the provocant and at times, degrading, content some female actors had to perform (I hope Sam Levinson is reading this so we never have to see a reboot of The Idol.)

At the end of the day, Isaacs might be tired of the discourse, but when it comes to Hollywood’s long and extensive history of gratuitous female nudity, many women would argue—we’ve been exhausted.

“People have been objectifying women for centuries. Now that the tables are turning men are realizing how gross it is. Good,” one Reddit user argued.

Keep On Reading

By Abby Amoakuh

Mikey Madison tells Pamela Anderson why she rejected an intimacy coordinator on Anora set

By Charlie Sawyer

The Idol’s toxic set revelations: How long until Sam Levinson’s career crashes and burns?

By Malavika Pradeep

15 of the best internet reactions to The Weeknd and Sam Levinson’s new HBO series ‘The Idol’

By Eliza Frost

How The Summer I Turned Pretty licensed so much of Taylor Swift’s discography for its soundtrack 

By Charlie Sawyer

Odd Muse founder Aimee Smale fights back against fast fashion controversy on TikTok

By Abby Amoakuh

You star Madeline Brewer faces misogynistic backlash after internet brands her character unlikeable

By Eliza Frost

All the Easter eggs from the first episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3

By Eliza Frost

How fans manifested Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

By Eliza Frost

Jennifer Aniston to star in Apple TV+ adaptation of Jennette McCurdy’s memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died

By Eliza Frost

The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 proves we’ll never be over love triangles

By Charlie Sawyer

Introducing Berlin’s latest tourist attraction Cybrothel, where men can request AI sex dolls covered in blood

By Eliza Frost

Does the SKIMS Face Wrap actually work, or is it just another TikTok trap?

By Eliza Frost

Sabrina Carpenter says you need to get out more if you think Man’s Best Friend artwork is controversial 

By Alma Fabiani

The disturbing TikTok trend sexualising fake Down syndrome faces using AI filters

By Eliza Frost

Rina Sawayama calls out Sabrina Carpenter’s SNL performance of Nobody’s Son for cultural insensitivity 

By Charlie Sawyer

Sabrina Carpenter accused of centering men on controversial album cover

By Eliza Frost

Bereavement leave to be extended to miscarriages before 24 weeks

By Eliza Frost

What is Banksying? Inside the latest toxic dating trend even worse than ghosting

By Eliza Frost

Kendall Jenner reveals plans to quit Kardashian fame for a normal job

By Charlie Sawyer

Father of former Harry Potter star gives serious warning to the new child stars in HBO Max reboot