STOP WRITING INCEST PLOTS OMG
I blame Game of Thrones. I'm dead serious.
I’d like to give credit to the person on Bluesky who inspired this post.
Carrot on bluesky, I salute you for your meme. Now, let’s get into the tea:
My first introduction to implied step-sibling incest (which I am coining as Step-Cest) was Life with Derek on Disney Channel as a kid—a show about a blended family where the oldest step-siblings, Derek and Casey, had this weird rivalry with implied romantic feelings.
There’s this one episode where they solve some problem, go their separate ways to their bedrooms, and then do the look back at each other. As a kid, I didn’t think much of it, but looking back, it’s clear the show was trying to get the audience to root for their romantic tension. But let’s not forget—THEIR PARENTS ARE MARRIED. They’re step-siblings. Why was this even a thing?
And it’s not just Life with Derek. Incest porn, incest-core, and sexual tension between family members has been everywhere in media. Look at Catelynn and Tyler Baltierra from Teen Mom. They were step-siblings, and they were dating before their parents got together. Their parents got divorced in 2013, & that’s a whole other level of messy, but they weren’t pushed as a romantic ideal in the same way.
I mean, we all know Game of Thrones’ has a storyline that involves 2 siblings who are so in love with each other they DIE in each others arms. disgusting. I know there is more to the show, but the sex scenes is where I drew the line.
Fast forward to Hbo/Max Original The White Lotus, which just premiered the first episode of season 3 which introduces us to the Ratliff family - Businessman/Potential Blue Collar Scammer Timothy, Medicated Mother Victoria, and their 3 adult children: Lochlan, Piper, and Saxon.
At the 15:50 mark, Piper says she and the youngest Ratliff sibling, Lochlan, can sleep in the same bed together. That immediately raised a red flag for me AND Saxon, the older brother. I have four older brothers, and the idea of sharing a bed with any of them is just…not an option. Ever. But in the show, it’s treated as normal?*
*Please comment below if this is normal or common in your families. I think this depends on the closeness of the family but in my case, I’d just get my own room.*
Oh my God, speaking of Saxon.
Saxon is the oldest brother/son/child who does whatevernhe can to appease his father, terrotize his sister Piper, and and he’s a walking red flag. He grabs his dick in front of his brother, talks about how long plane rides make him horny, and even calls his sister hot. WHAT? He keeps commenting on his siblings’ bodies, touching them, and being all kinds of inappropriate. At one point, Lochlan watches him about to jerk off in the bathroom until Saxon closes the door. I’m sitting on my couch thinking, what is happening here? Saxon is a problem, and the fact that this is being portrayed on screen is disturbing.
This isn’t just about The White Lotus or Life with Derek. Step-sibling and step-family dynamics are everywhere in porn and media , and it’s TOO normalized.
The Psychology Behind the Obsession
I asked myself too many times Why is this even a thing? Why are people so obsessed with incest porn & taboo themes in media? I did some digging, and here’s what I found:
Taboo as a Selling Point: Taboo subjects are often used to create shock value or intrigue. The idea of “forbidden love” or “forbidden desire” can be (BUT NOT TO ME) appealing in a fictional context because it pushes boundaries. But when it’s overused or presented uncritically, it can blur the lines between fantasy and reality. According to this book, the normalization of taboo themes in media can lead to a desensitization of real-life boundaries, particularly when it comes to familial relationships.
Desensitization: The more we’re exposed to certain themes, the more normalized they become. This is especially concerning when it comes to incestuous themes, because it can erode real-life boundaries and make people think these dynamics are acceptable. Research published in the Journal of Research on Adolescence highlights how media portrayals of taboo relationships can shape adolescent perceptions of what is ‘normal’ or ‘acceptable,’ even when those relationships are harmful or inappropriate.
Side Note: It doesn’t matter how much porn is watched and consumed and how much you ignore it, someone saying theyre “fucking their brother” - step or not- is disgusting.
Power Dynamics: Incestuous themes often involve unequal power dynamics, which can be exploitative. This is particularly troubling when it’s portrayed as romantic or consensual, because it ignores the real-life harm that such relationships can cause. A review of studies cited on Google Scholar reveals a growing body of evidence suggesting that the normalization of incestuous themes in media can have real-world consequences, including the erosion of familial boundaries and the trivialization of sexual abuse.
The Legal Landscape of Incest in the United States
While we’re talking about how incest is being normalized in media, it’s worth noting that, in most of the United States, incest is illegal. Yes, you read that right. In all but two states—New Jersey and Rhode Island—incest between consenting adults is a crime. Even in those two states, while incest between consenting adults isn’t criminalized, marriage between relatives is still prohibited.
Here’s the breakdown:
New Jersey: Incest with 16-17-year-olds is illegal, and underage sex offenses are made more severe if they’re also incestuous.
Rhode Island: Similar to New Jersey, incest between consenting adults isn’t a crime, but marriage isn’t allowed.
Ohio: Incest is only illegal between parental figures, which is a weirdly specific loophole.
Media is out here romanticizing step-sibling relationships and pushing incest-core as some kind of edgy, taboo fantasy, the law where most of the country is like, “Nope, not okay.” And yet, here we are, with shows like The White Lotus and Life with Derek blurring the lines, making this incest/step-cest “fantasy” seem desirable and attainable.
And to that, I say, “Yuck.”
Why This Discrepancy Matters
It’s one thing to explore taboo subjects in fiction, but when these subjects involve harmful or illegal dynamics, we need to ask ourselves: Why this storyline? Why are we discussing potentially implied incest ?
Media shapes societal norms and attitudes. Presenting incestuous themes as romantic can desensitize viewers to their real-life harms. Most aren’t considering state laws after watching steamy step-sibling scenes; they perceive such relationships as thrilling or desirable. This trend is concerning. Media influences our worldview, and normalizing harmful dynamics requires a response. Through discussions, supporting better representation, and raising awareness, we can challenge this trend.
So, to all the writers, producers, and creators out there: PLEASE STOP WRITING INCEST PLOTS. We don’t need any more Saxons, any more Life with Derek moments, ANY MORE GAME OF THRONES SPIN OFFS.
No more step-sibling porn tropes. Please write about anything else.
This type of media being pushed is gross, unnecessary, and I am not okay with anyone, especially children, seeing this stuff and I cant be the only one. What do you think? Have you noticed this trend too?
If this is your kink, how do people who enjoy step-sibling/incest-themed porn but have no desire to engage in such relationships themselves separate their kink from real-life feelings? How do you mentally distinguish between the two? Let’s talk about it!
-Talk soon, Jaz
Sharing a bed with siblings is normal to most families I know but if the older brother is calling his sister hot then God knows what's going on there
Interesting piece, but I don’t think the point of White Lotus is to romanticize anything about these wealthy people on vacation. If anything, its goal is to pull back the shiny veneer and show them at their most greedy, selfish, exploitative, and depraved. The Saxon and Lochlan plotline shows just how deep the rot is going in that family—my theory is that Saxon is also starting to realize his inappropriate hypersexuality has groomed this behavior in Lochlan, eroding that line between appropriate and not. Exactly like you mention above!
Agree that if every show includes this plot, its shock value would wear off and there’s potential for it to become normalized. Gross. Sometimes shock just for shock isn’t it, even if you trust the audience understands you’re not encouraging this behavior. But White Lotus is no Flowers in the Attic.