Serbian actor Miloš Biković will take on a role in the third season of the social satirical HBO series “The White Lotus”. This announcement was not well received by the Ukrainian government. The reason: Biković has publicly expressed his admiration for Russia and even accepted an award from President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine accuses him of supporting the Russian invasion of the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine shared a video on Twitter and asked: “Is it okay for you to work with someone who supports genocide and violates international law?” There is no official statement from HBO or Miloš Biković on the allegations.
See the post here:
Miloš Biković and his ties to Russia
Ukraine’s accusations relate to Biković’s public statements after the start of the Russian invasion. The actor shared a poll on Twitter that showed trust in Putin was higher than in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The 36-year-old has appeared in Russian films, including Nikita Mikhalkov’s 2014 “Sunstroke.” He also filmed in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia. In 2018, Bikovićs received a Pushkin Medal for his contributions to Russian culture, awarded by Putin. In 2021 he also received Russian citizenship, making him bi-national.
The discussion about the casting of Miloš Biković in “The White Lotus” certainly raises questions about ethics in the entertainment industry. It remains to be seen whether and how HBO will respond to Ukraine’s allegations and whether this will have an impact on the production and release of the third season of “The White Lotus.”