A Win Wrapped in Drama:
The Creative Arts Emmys 2025 brought a big moment for composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer, who picked up his fourth Emmy for The White Lotus. His trophy came in the category of
Best Original Main Title Theme Music for Season 3.
But while the honor celebrated his artistry, it also arrived under the shadow of his very public falling out with series creator Mike White.
The Acceptance: Without HBO or White
Tapia de Veer did not attend the Los Angeles ceremony but celebrated remotely. On Instagram, he shared: “I just won my fourth Emmy Award: best theme for The White Lotus Season 3. I respect the Academy because those votes can’t be bought. No smear campaign distracted them. Thank you, this means a lot to me in more than one way.”
He paired his words with a clip of the winning theme playing over a video of a firefly, writing that the melody was inspired by filming that moment.
Notably, there was no mention of HBO or Mike White, a telling omission given the rocky history between them.
Congratulations to all of the winners of the 74th EMMY Awards!
— SCL New York (@scl_ny) September 5, 2022
OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL MAIN TITLE THEME MUSIC
Cristobal Tapia de Veer
The White Lotus#emmyawards #emmys2022 #cristobaltapiadeveer #thewhitelotus #hbo #maintitletheme #composer pic.twitter.com/j3HjcxOXZX
The Creative Rift:
Earlier this year, Tapia de Veer confirmed he would not return for Season 4, citing clashes with White and the production team. He claimed their disputes dated back to Season 1, where he fought to keep his darker, experimental vision intact.
“Maybe I was being unprofessional. But what I gave him did this — did those Emmys, people going crazy. It was worth the tension,” Tapia de Veer told the New York Times.
White, in turn, responded in interviews by downplaying the feud but admitted they “butted heads,” especially during Season 3.
“He is very talented. But I don’t think he respected me,” White said on The Howard Stern Show, adding that Tapia de Veer resisted feedback once the show became a hit.
The White Lotus and Its Awards Run:
Despite the off-screen tensions, The White Lotus continues to be an Emmy powerhouse. Across its first three seasons, the HBO series has earned 16 Emmys, with Tapia de Veer personally winning four:
Two for Best Main Title Theme (Seasons 1 & 3)
Two for Original Dramatic Score (Seasons 1 & 2)
Season 3 alone picked up 15 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series.
Final Take:
Tapia de Veer’s fourth Emmy proves how essential his haunting, off-kilter themes were in defining The White Lotus. Yet his departure raises questions about how the show will evolve musically in Season 4 without the man who gave it its sonic identity.
The feud may have overshadowed the win, but the Emmy also serves as a reminder: sometimes creative tension, however messy, can produce unforgettable art.
