CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
The Turkish government is facing a catastrophic collapse in tourism, and their government places the blame entirely on HBO’s White Lotus.
More specifically, US actor Walton Goggins.
In the space of a month, the TV star has unwittingly decimated the tourism industry in Türkiye.
The now famous landmarks and cobblestoned streets that make up Türkiye’s rich historical heritage have played a big role in transforming the once war-weary West Asian nation it into a wildly popular destination.
Increasing numbers of Westerners have flocked to holiday in the country over the last three decades. Türkiye has gone from an 1988 record of 5 million annual tourists to the high-water mark of more than 51 million tourists in 2019.
After recovering from a pandemic low, the country has since struck a rich vein with medical tourism.
Istanbul and surrounds has become a go-to destination for vain Westerners seeking hair transplants, a cosmetic procedure that involves taking healthy follicles from the back of the head and implanting them on the front.
However, the release of the third season on HBO’s White Lotus has crippled Türkiye tourism sector to such an extent that now numbers are now lower than they were during the height of Coronavirus.
Turkish leaders say that this is because Walton Goggins has redefined what it means to be a slightly balding middle aged man.
Right across the world, global audiences have found themselves being weirdly attracted to Goggins’ deeply troubled character, as he chain smokes and binge drinks himself to inner-peace during an eventful Thailand holiday.
In fact, White Lotus audiences say that his character’s sex appeal is only increased by a faltering hairline.
But not only has Walton Goggins made it sexy for men to rock the cul-de-sacs in their hairline, but he’s also providing hope for men over fifty.
Alongside his equally muscular but lean co-star Sam Rockwell, the two men have showcased that the boys can still very much be back in town at their age.
The greying actors have proven that 50-somethings are still capable of being hard partying sex icons, no matter how much baggage they are carrying with them after a lifetime of regrets and anguish. This too has caused irreversible damage to golf courses and cycling retailers.
