Ukraine Slams HBO For Casting Pro-Putin Actor In 'White Lotus' Season 3

By Camille Terrania

(L-R) Actors Connie Britton, Sydney Sweeney, Alexandra Daddario, Murray Bartlett, and moderator Anthony D'Alessandro at HBO Max's 'The White Lotus' — (Photo : Getty Images/Kevin Winter) (L-R) Actors Connie Britton, Sydney Sweeney, Alexandra Daddario, Murray Bartlett, and moderator Anthony D'Alessandro speak onstage during HBO Max's 'The White Lotus' panel during Deadline Contenders Television at Paramount Studios on April 10, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

HBO and "The White Lotus" are facing criticism from Ukraine over the casting of a pro-Russia actor.

On Wednesday, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) took to X, formerly Twitter, to call out HBO over the casting of Serbian actor Miloš Biković, who has repeatedly expressed his admiration of Russian culture and accepted a medal from its president, Vladimir Putin, in "The White Lotus" Season 3.

"Miloš Biković, Serbian actor who has been supporting Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion, is now set to star in HBO's 'The White Lotus' Season 3," the MFA of Ukraine wrote alongside a video of Biković.

The ministry directly addressed the network, asking, "@HBO, is it all right for you to work with a person who supports genocide & violates international law?"

HBO has yet to publicly address the accusations and concerns raised by Ukraine.

Miloš Biković, Serbian actor who has been supporting Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion, is now set to star in HBO's The White Lotus Season 3@HBO, is it all right for you to work with a person who supports genocide & violates international law?

📹 @United24media pic.twitter.com/ceWkXVttfp
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) January 24, 2024

Deadline reported that Biković, 36, may portray a Russian-speaking wellness guru at the White Lotus hotel in the upcoming third season.

Biković faced criticism from Ukraine for his alleged stance on Russia's invasion of the country.

On X, he reportedly shared a poll indicating higher trust in Putin compared to other leaders like President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky soon after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to Deadline.

The actor has appeared in several Russian films, including 2014's "Sunstroke," directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov.

According to the MFA of Ukraine, Biković also previously filmed projects in Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.

In 2018, Putin awarded Biković the Pushkin medal, a prestigious cultural honor in Russia, for his contributions to Russian culture.

Furthermore, he was granted Russian citizenship by presidential decree in 2021.

Biković wrote on Instagram at the time that Russia was his "homeland" and that he was "an active member of Russian society," The Guardian reported.

The first two seasons of "The White Lotus," which were set in Hawaii and Italy, respectively, received critical acclaim and more than 40 Emmy nominations in total.

Production on "The White Lotus" Season 3 is set to begin in Thailand next month.

According to Variety, the upcoming season could be shot in one of the Four Seasons resorts in Thailand, which are located in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and the Golden Triangle.

The third installment of "The White Lotus" is expected to premiere in 2025.