Mike White, the creator of the critically acclaimed series “The White Lotus,” has voiced strong sentiments regarding the recent departure of the show’s Emmy-winning composer, Cristal Tapia Deve. In a candid interview with Howard Stern, White addressed the composer’s announcement, which came after a reported feud over the show’s score. Tapia Deve had previously stated in a New York Times interview that he was leaving the project, remarking, “we already had our last fight forever.”

White expressed confusion over the situation, stating, “I honestly don’t know what happened except now I’m reading his interviews because he decides to do some PR campaign about him leaving the show.” He suggested that Tapia Deve did not respect him during their collaboration, indicating that the tension stemmed from a lack of willingness to engage in the creative process. “I don’t think he liked going through the process of getting notes from me or wanting revisions because he didn’t respect me,” White explained.

He further elaborated on their working relationship, recalling that any disagreements were minimal and mostly limited to emails. White described a challenging dynamic, noting that by the third season, Tapia Deve, who had achieved significant success, seemed disinterested in collaboration and often displayed a contemptuous demeanor.

Despite the conflict, White acknowledged Tapia Deve’s talent, stating, “he’s very talented but I’d never kiss somebody’s ass just to get him to lead that horse to water.” He concluded with a farewell sentiment, wishing Tapia Deve well in his future endeavors.

As the dust settles on this creative clash, fans of “The White Lotus” are left to wonder how this change will impact the show’s future, particularly as the series continues to garner acclaim and a dedicated following. For more details on this developing story, visit The Hollywood Reporter.