The White Lotus finds replacement for Miloš Biković after Ukraine controversy
Julian Kostov joins the cast of The White Lotus after Miloš Biković was dropped by HBO
Aux News The White Lotus
Miloš Biković, the Serbian-Russian actor originally cast in the upcoming third season of The White Lotus, has been replaced by Julian Kostov, according to Deadline. Kostov was previously seen in Netflix’s Shadow And Bone and co-owns a production company (Five Oceans) with fellow Bulgarian actor and Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova. Filming for the new season of Mike White’s comedy anthology series is expected to begin soon in Bangkok.
Biković was originally cast in the role as a recurring Russian character but was let go after HBO faced criticism from Ukraine. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared a video to Twitter/X accusing Biković of being the “Kremlin’s foreign mouthpiece” and calling him “a person who supports genocide & violates international law.” He has reportedly been banned from entering Ukraine for several years now.
“Today, a targeted campaign has been unleashed against me, seemingly as an external maneuver to influence decisions that can create a disturbing precedent shadowing the essence of artistic freedom. The result of such a narrative is the triumph of absurdity and the defeat of art,” Biković said in a statement about his firing (which can be read in full over at Variety). “I was honored to be chosen to be a part of White Lotus, a TV series that I hold in high regard and with colleagues whom I deeply respect. However, my participation is not possible due to reasons beyond the realm of art and I will not bow to any narrative that seeks to compromise my integrity.”
“I would like to thank everyone who stood by me. I wish my colleagues great success in creating the next season,” he concluded. “Regardless of everything, I strongly believe that art can heal. I believe it can help humanity unite. My beliefs and my dedication to art will remain unchanged.”
30 Comments
Which one is the new guy?
Oh so all Eastern Europeans looks the same to you, huh??
Western too!
What a weird thing to ask. The photos didn’t identify who is who. And apparently you don’t know either.
Oh I have no clue whatsoever who either of these guys are. But I guess we learned that you shouldn’t be Putin’s propagandist if you want to get work outside the country.
You should learn to recognize obvious jokes.
White people, man, who can even tell them apart.
No idea, but I assumed from the way the headline was structured (new guy listed first) that the guy on the left is the new guy and the guy on the right is the guy out of work.
EDIT: I was wrong.
Classic anti-Serb bigotry. A peppering of selective quotes and drumming up of anti-Russian hysteria when you have videos of countless American politicians shaking hands with Putin. But the accusation of ‘supporting genocide’ has to be the most bizarre of them all.
But hey, HBO will generously pay for this unilateral ripping up of a contract, giving the guy a payout as if he did the show. Milos has stated that he will donate this payout to charity.
The invasion of Ukraine is an openly genocidical war. Usually the genocidal aspect of wars is understated, but Putin has been quite clear the Ukraine should not exist, that the Ukrainian identity is supposedly “made up” in a fake way different to all otter identities.In violation of international law the russians have been reporting children from the occupied areas and telling them they have been saved and are really Russian.Spar me the outrage about supposed anti Serb bigotry.
LOL. It’s anti-Serbian bigotry to not want a supporter of Russian aggression on a set? What? And what does select American politicians have to do with it? It’s a completely different industry.The word genocide does get bandied about too willingly though. It’s losing all meaning. There is of course a difference between targeting citizens and genocide. Though I doubt the distinction matters much to the Ukranian citizens being murdered.
As for the actor, I figure that he may have not had much of a choice, for one, and didn’t know Russia was going to go as nuts as it has done, back when he started. But by the time it invaded Ukraine, the hold on him may very well be: “Do as you’re told if you don’t want your family to all be tossed out of upper-story windows”.As for genocide, as Ukraine recovers more territory, more Buchas and Irpins will be uncovered. That’s going to be horrific.And finally, the Kremlin has cultivated its hold on many politicians over the decades. Hungary certainly is held by Putin, as is the U.S. GOP. The “oddly interesting” part will be what Beijing orders Putin to do regarding all of this compromat power that the Kremlin has around the world. The balance of power has changed to that of Beijing holding the strings over Moscow, due to Putin’s utter waste of the Russian military. All of those Republicans following Trump in yelling “China bad” may be told to change their tune.
How about agressions against Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan?
Not to say Azerbaijan literally performed genocide in 2020 and ‘23 and no one ever bat an eye as their oil & gas is used for Europe in the place of Russian one (although reports say it’s the same gas and Europe knows it)
Okay so maybe I’ve missed something, but there’s anti-Serb bigotry? In the United States? Does the average American even know what a Serb is? Enough to have a “classic” form of bigotry against him?
Black Lotus still unimpressed
Black Lotus will make their buildings ours
“A person who supports genocide,” levels Ukraine before once again comparing its struggle to that of Israel, a genocidal state.
The AV Club is pro-zionism and pro-genocide in Palestine.
Kill yourself.
By supporting their website by clicking/commenting you are too.
My god the world is so confusing right now.
The agenda of the media becomes clear when they celebrate and encourage bigotry against one group of people while pretending hate and bigotry against another group of people is awful and unfair. The media will always encourage and celebrate bigotry when it helps them warmonger. Americans are too stupid to figure this out which is why their tax dollars fund genocide instead of healthcare.
To be fair, most of us don’t even realize we can vote for things besides the president or American Idol.
There is no vote that would get Americans healthcare. When we vote, our governors overturn and do what they want anyway.
Yep. The government and all politicians are evil.
Doom is always right.
1. No serious person would take any Ukrainian statement or claim at face value.2. #JusticeForMilos. 3. Vocal minority shouldn’t dictate rules4. Ukraine itself keepps supporting N*zi Azerbaijan, who gets no punishment for any deed as its oil & gas isn’t known to be as bloody ad Putin’s is claimed to be.