What happened to Miloš Biković?

Serbian actor Milos Bikovic, who also holds Russian citizenship, has officially withdrawn from his role in White Lotus Season 3, set in a Thai resort. The ensemble cast, featuring Natasha Rothwell, Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul, Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Michelle Monaghan, Tayme Thapthimthong, Carrie Coon, Christian Friedel, Morgana O’Reilly, Lek Patravadi, Shalini Peiris, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Sam Nivola, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Aimee Lou Wood, will now see a replacement for Bikovic’s character.

HBO, the network producing the series, decided to recast Bikovic’s role following criticism from Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry expressed dissatisfaction with Bikovic’s failure to publicly denounce Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a stance that could have legal consequences in Russia.

In a statement, Milos Bikovic expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of White Lotus, a series he holds in high regard. However, he clarified that his withdrawal is not related to artistic reasons but stems from external factors. Despite the circumstances, Bikovic emphasized his refusal to succumb to any narrative that might compromise his integrity.