HBO’s hit series The White Lotus has never shied away from controversy, but it seems this season may have pushed things a little too far—at least in the eyes of Duke University.
In the show’s sixth episode, viewers watched Jason Isaacs portray Timothy Ratliff, a volatile and morally bankrupt business mogul who spends the episode high on lorazepam, contemplating a murder-suicide involving his wife, played by Parker Posey. All while sporting a Duke University T-shirt.
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That’s where the real-world drama begins.
Duke University is now speaking out, calling foul on the show’s use of its trademarked apparel—without permission. Frank Tramble, Duke’s vice president for communications, marketing, and public affairs, told The New York Times that the institution has no desire to be associated with The White Lotus or its chaotic characters.
“Duke appreciates artistic expression and creative storytelling,” Tramble said. “But characters prominently wearing apparel bearing Duke’s federally registered trademarks creates confusion and mistakenly suggests an endorsement or affiliation where none exists.”
Tramble went on to stress that the school was not just concerned about the lack of licensing, but also the context in which the university’s branding appeared. “In our view,” he added, “the show uses it on imagery that is troubling, does not reflect our values or who we are, and simply goes too far.”
This backlash adds to the list of controversies surrounding Isaacs’s unhinged character this season. Earlier in the run, the actor appeared fully nude in a particularly buzzworthy scene, sparking speculation and… some awkward questions. When asked at a March 14 event whether he used a prosthetic, Isaacs fired back with a comment that drew criticism.
“There’s a double standard for men,” Isaacs said at the time. “You’d never ask Margaret Qualley about her genitalia or her nipples.”
The comment sparked backlash online, prompting Isaacs to walk it back days later in a statement to Variety. “I said the wrong words in the wrong way,” he admitted. “There is a [different] double standard — women have been monstrously exploited and men haven’t.”
Meanwhile, The White Lotus continues its rollercoaster ride through scandal and satire, leaving a trail of controversy in its wake. Whether HBO or the show’s creator Mike White will address Duke’s objections remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the Blue Devils are out.
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