Sun Feb 23 09:20:00 UTC 2025: ## JioHotstar Accused of Censorship in “The White Lotus” Season 3 Premiere
**Mumbai, India** – JioHotstar, the Indian streaming partner for HBO’s “The White Lotus,” is facing accusations of censorship after users reported the removal and subsequent re-upload of the season three premiere, with scenes seemingly deleted.
Multiple social media posts claim a scene featuring a character’s prayer to Jesus followed by an expletive, directed at the Buddha statue, was removed from the episode. Other reports suggest edits to scenes involving nudity and references to Buddha and Indra. Viewers reported seeing the complete episode earlier in the day, only to find the altered version later.
One user described their experience: “Did JioHotstar release the latest episode of White Lotus and…remove it? I watched a few minutes before work and when I came back…it’s gone?”
A writer, Deepansh Duggal, noted on X (formerly Twitter): “The first episode of The White Lotus S3 is heavily censored on JioHotstar. Looks like references to Buddha/Indra and nudity have been removed/edited. Tobacco warnings are displayed throughout.”
The Independent has contacted JioHotstar for comment on the allegations of censorship and re-upload. The platform has a history of censoring content, previously removing episodes of John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight” that were critical of the Indian government.
This incident follows a pattern of censorship on the platform, raising concerns about freedom of expression in India’s streaming landscape. The new season of “The White Lotus,” which received positive reviews, features a star-studded cast including Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, and Michelle Monaghan. The show’s move to Thailand for its third season has not prevented the controversy. The nature of the censorship suggests a potential conflict between creative content and cultural sensitivities within the Indian market.
First Piper 