White Lotus drama: Theme tune composer quits show after “hysterical” behind-the-scenes disagreements

Composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, known for creating the theme song of “The White Lotus,” has decided to leave the series following intense disputes backstage that were described as emotionally charged.

A Chilean-Canadian musician garnered three Emmy accolades for his melodies in the initial and subsequent seasons of a popular show. Previously, the opening themes had similar haunting vocal harmonies accompanied by musical elements reflecting the settings of each season.

This year, when season three premiered, I found myself among those fans who felt a bit let down by the significantly altered opening theme. The absence of the classic, recognizable wails was noticeable and somewhat disconcerting.

After facing criticism, de Veer has chosen to leave “The White Lotus,” stating that he will not be a part of season four.

Speaking about the alteration in the background music, the musician shared with the New York Times: “Upon releasing the new season three theme, I received calls from TMZ as well as people from England and France, seeking my thoughts on the change. It seems that many fans are upset about the modified theme, which I found intriguing.

Veer disclosed that he created an extended version of the song, resembling the earlier scores and potentially suitable for the opening credits sequence.

I reached out to the producer and suggested that at some stage, we could provide them with the extended version featuring the “ooh-loo-loo-loos,” as people would likely be thrilled to discover it was part of the original plan. He seemed to like the idea, but unfortunately, [creator Mike White] decided against it; he wasn’t content with that particular change.

In addition, De Veer asserted that his discussions with the producers often escalated into intense arguments and that they consistently pressed him for music that was more avant-garde than he preferred. Using the analogy of a rock ‘n’ roll band, he likened himself to a lead guitarist who completely failed to comprehend the singer’s intentions.

The composer stated that it was during season one when issues between him and White initially surfaced, even though their music received praise from critics.

As a gamer, I might rephrase it like this: “Perhaps I could have been more professional, and it seems Mike thinks I wasn’t, especially when it came to not delivering what he expected. However, the things I did provide, well, let me tell you — those were the ones that earned us the Emmys, had everyone going wild!

Digital Spy has reached out to Mike White for comment.

The final episode of “The White Lotus” season 3 will broadcast in the United States on HBO this coming Sunday, April 6th. For those with a Max subscription, it can also be streamed. In the UK, it won’t be until Monday, April 7th that it becomes available through Sky/NOW. On the same day, it will air on Sky Atlantic.

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2025-04-05 17:19