After Jason Isaacs’ much-discussed nude scene in The White Lotus prompted debate about his potential use of a prosthetic penis, the actor has called out a “double standard for men”.

• READ MORE: ‘The White Lotus’ season three review: irresistible holiday soap remains TV’s most essential destination

In the fourth episode of season three, which aired on HBO in the US last Sunday (March 9), Isaacs’ Timothy Ratliff is under intense pressure as he learns he is facing a criminal investigation into his business practices back home. To cope, he starts to take his wife Victoria’s (Parker Posey) anti-anxiety medication.

In the memorable scene, Timothy is sitting in his robe with his wife, two sons and daughter in their luxury hotel room. As he stretches, the robe opens and Timothy is exposed in a full-frontal shot.

Despite reports from his co-stars that he was as “very excited” to shoot the scene, its reception online has highlighted an imbalance in the discussion of nude moments on screen.

Fans on social media, for instance, largely reacted to the scene with lewd jokes, with one writing they “didn’t expect White Lotus to show Lucius Malfoy’s wand tonight, but here we are.” Another made reference to Isaacs’s Harry Potter character, quipping: “I was not ready for Lucius Malfoy’s slytherin to slip out.”

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The actor made an appearance on CBS Mornings recently, and host Gayle King brought up the ensuing debate on social media over whether Isaacs used a prosthetic penis or not.

“A lot of people are debating it,” he acknowledged. “It’s all over the internet.” When King noted he didn’t directly answer the question, he said: “I’ll tell you why, because the Best Actress this year is Mikey Madison at the Oscars [for Anora]. And I don’t see anyone discussing her vulva, which is on television all the time – and I’m not talking about Swedish cars.”

He continued: “I think it’s interesting that there’s a double standard for men, but when women are naked, [like] Margaret Qualley in The Substance, no one would dream of talking to her about her genitalia or her nipples or any of those things. So, it’s odd that there’s a double standard.”

Isaacs went on to say he dodged the the question because he didn’t think viewers “really want to know how the sausage is made,” adding: “I genuinely think it would be odd when there are characters — and some of the women are naked in here — it’d be odd if you were sitting here. And you would never dream of discussing their genitalia, not for a second.”

Co-host Tony Dokoupil added that they had been debating about the prosthetic penis all morning, to which Isaacs asked: “What is your obsession? Mike White is a brilliant writer, it’s the best series on television for a long time. And what is the obsession with penises? It’s an odd thing.”