The HBO announced that it will hold a new audition for a role in the third season of the series “The White Lotus”, which was originally given to the Serbian actor, Milos Bikovic.

The third season of the Emmy-nominated series was set to begin shooting in February, but HBO has now announced that it will be casting for the role of a wellness guru, which Bikovich would play.

A spokesperson for the network told Business Insider: “We have decided to part ways with Milos Biković and there will be a new audition for the role.”

The statement did not specify why the decision was made, however there have been recent accusations against the actor by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

A post by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on X/Twitter on January 24 stated: “Milos Bikovic, Serbian actor who has been supporting Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion, will now star in Season 3 of HBO’s The White Lotus. @HBO, is it right to work with a person who advocates genocide and violates international law?’

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A post shared by Miloš Biković (@biković)

While Bikovich has not made public statements in favor of the war, he has posted on Instagram his thoughts on conflict and the consequences of the war in Ukraine, prompting criticism from some users that he did not explicitly condemn the Russian invasion.

In the post he wrote: “Worst of all, war and bloodshed on both sides remind us how far humanity is from the ideals of unity and love. O God, save the lives of all who are in danger at this moment…”.

Bikovich responded to the decision in a statement to Business Insider saying: “Today, a targeted campaign has been launched against me, ostensibly as an external maneuver to influence decisions that can set a disturbing precedent, which casts a shadow on the essence of artistic freedom.”

“The result of such a narrative is the triumph of absurdity and the defeat of art,” he emphasized.

“I grew up in a war-torn country,” added the actor. “At the age of 11, I endured days and nights in shelters while my hometown and city were being bombed. And I could never wish such a disaster on anyone,” he pointed out.

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A post shared by Miloš Biković (@biković)

Milos Biković is a Serbian actor and producer, a graduate of the School of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. In 2020 he founded his own production company Archangel Digital Studios.

He starred in the film “South Wind” undisputed success, at the top of the box office according to the list of the Film Center of Serbia and a record viewership (1 million) in the country. The Belgrade-born actor has also starred in Russian films.

In 2018, at a ceremony in the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin awarded Bykovich with the Pushkin Medal in recognition of his contribution to the promotion of the country’s culture.