'Gilmore Girls' star Scott Patterson says he felt objectified and like a 'meat stick' during a 'disturbing' scene on the show

• Scott Patterson said he felt objectified during a "Gilmore Girls" episode on his podcast.
• His character's butt became the subject of a series of jokes in season three's episode 19 (2003).

Scott Patterson said he felt objectified during the "Gilmore Girls" episode "Keg! Max!" on his podcast "I Am All In with Scott Patterson."

"Objectifying somebody's body part — that was disturbing," Patterson told co-hosts Amy Sugarman and Danielle Romo about the scene (starting around the 40:30-minute mark of the podcast).

Patterson played diner owner Luke Danes in the series. In 2003, during season three, episode 19, characters Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) and Sookie St. James (Melissa McCarthy) discuss his character's backside at length after Sookie accidentally grazes it. The scene begins with an extended shot of Patterson at the 8:20-minute mark in the show.

"I realized it wasn't OK, and it didn't make me feel comfortable at all. It made me feel really embarrassed, actually," Patterson said.

His character protests their comments, saying they are "in bad taste." Patterson in real life said he was also upset about the dialogue.

"It's infuriating because you're being treated like an object. And it's disturbing and it's disgusting and I had to endure that through that entire scene and many takes," he said. "It was all about the butt, the butt, the butt, the butt."

Patterson said the comments about his backside did not pause when the cameras stopped rolling.

"When we weren't filming, we were sitting down — people were still talking about the butt, the butt, the butt," he added.

He saw the scene as reflective of the series creator's ideas about his role. "Gilmore Girls" was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, and both she and her husband and collaborator Dan Palladino co-wrote the episode.

"This is how the creator of that show sees that character that you can humiliate him and take away his dignity that entire scene and that's OK and that wasn't OK with me," said Patterson.

He said he also felt uncomfortable during rehearsals and at the table read where the scene was read in front of the crew, cast, and network executives.

"Just because it was 2003 didn't mean it was OK," he said. "It's never OK. And I didn't feel comfortable doing it and it pissed me off. I never said anything, so I was angry at myself for never saying anything. But, you know, I had this job and I didn't want to make waves and all that."

Patterson said he felt "incredibly small" and like "some kind of meat stick."

He told his cohosts he was relieved when the experience was through.

"I couldn't wait for that day to be over," he concluded.

Listen to the full episode below.