Duke University slams The White Lotus in statement after using its name in ‘troubling’ scene

When you think of Duke, you probably picture its powerhouse basketball team, its world-class academics, or maybe its high-profile alumni. But now, the university’s name is making headlines for a very different reason. Its unexpected cameo in The White Lotus has sparked controversies. And Duke officials? They’re not happy about it.

In the third season of HBO’s hit series, Duke plays a surprisingly prominent role. Not only is one of the leading characters, Timothy Ratliff, a Duke alumnus, but so is his son Saxon. He quickly became one of the most talked-about characters of the season for all the wrong reasons. His character, a symbol of toxic masculinity, shares a kiss with his younger brother before the pair take part in a shocking incestuous threesome—one of the most controversial scenes the show has ever aired.

But while that storyline had viewers talking, it was another moment that left Duke University itself outraged. In episode five, Timothy Ratliff, played by Jason Isaacs, is shown wearing a Duke T-shirt while holding a gun to his head as he is investigated by the FBI. The scene, depicting an elite Duke graduate in crisis, immediately went viral—leading to memes and online jokes.

Duke is apparently very mad at white lotus because Timothy tried to commit suicide in a duke sweatshirt lmao I’m sorry but that was one of the shows best decisions, making the duke and NC (Parker posey) alumni batshit insane and stupid lol

— Gladio Langford (@fearthe_void) March 28, 2025

Mental health concerns are at the forefront

Most Read

Watch the video of Lily Phillips’ latest viral challenge, and it’s definitely the most gross yet

Gal Gadot is getting dragged for this Snow White line where she sounds like Scooby-Doo

Lily Phillips shares full rundown of how her grim ‘backdoor’ challenge actually went down

Frank Tramble, Duke’s VP for Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs, slammed the show for using the university’s brand without permission and in an inappropriate context. “The White Lotus not only uses our brand without permission, but in our view, uses it on imagery that is troubling, does not reflect our values or who we are, and simply goes too far,” he told Bloomberg.

Beyond concerns over reputation, Duke is also calling out the show’s depiction of suicide. “Suicide is the second-leading cause of death on college campuses,” Tramble noted, adding that the university is using this moment to highlight mental health resources.

However, HBO is unlikely to remove the scene—or acknowledge Duke’s complaints. Under the First Amendment, artists are legally allowed to use trademarks and logos in creative works. That means the university has little recourse beyond expressing its disapproval.

For more like this, and the latest pop culture updates, like The Tab on Facebook.