Okay folks you know "The White Lotus" right? That super popular HBO show that everyone's talking about. Well guess what? The latest season just stirred up some unexpected drama and it involves none other than Duke University . Yep the prestigious school is not too thrilled about how they are being portrayed in the show and things are getting a little heated. Let's dive into this unexpected clash between Hollywood and academia.
From Luxury Resort to University Upset: Why Duke is Seeing Red Over The White Lotus
So what exactly got Duke in a twist? In the current season of "The White Lotus" which is set in Thailand there's a family called the Ratliffs. The dad Timothy and one of his sons Saxon are both Duke alumni. Sounds normal so far right? Wrong. The show has been showing these characters in a less than flattering light to say the least.
Saxon is portrayed as kind of a stereotypical rich playboy and gets involved in some pretty wild storylines like kissing his brother and a threesome situation. But the real kicker is with the dad Timothy. He is in trouble with the FBI for money laundering and in a recent episode things get dark. There is a scene where Timothy while wearing a Duke University T-shirt holds a gun to his head seemingly contemplating suicide. Yikes.
"Simply Goes Too Far": Duke University Issues Strong Rebukes Over "Troubling" White Lotus Depiction
Duke University is not taking this lightly. Frank Tramble Duke's VP for communications marketing and public affairs has come out swinging. He released a statement saying the university did not approve the show using their logo. He made it clear that Duke feels "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."
Duke is especially concerned about the scene with the Duke T-shirt and the suicide contemplation. Tramble pointed out that "Suicide is the second-leading cause of death on college campuses." They are worried that this kind of imagery being shared online is not a good look for their brand and is insensitive given the serious issue of mental health on campuses. Duke even stated they are going to use their "brand to promote mental health awareness and remind people that help is available" in response to the show.
Duke also told the New York Times they are not happy about the show using their trademarks because it "creates confusion and mistakenly suggests an endorsement or affiliation where none exists." Basically they do not want people thinking Duke University is in any way connected to or approves of the characters or storylines in "The White Lotus."
Legal Battle Brewing? Why Duke Might Not Have a Case Against HBO
So is Duke going to sue HBO? It is unclear if they will take legal action but experts say they might not have much of a case even if they tried. Intellectual property law professor Jeanne Fromer from NYU told the New York Times that artists are usually protected when using trademarks for artistic purposes. She mentioned First Amendment rights come into play here.
Another lawyer Scott Landsbaum told Bloomberg that using a brand name on a T-shirt in a show is likely considered "fair use" and not trademark infringement. Basically unless Duke can prove defamation or some other serious harm it will be tough to win a legal fight over a TV show using their logo. As Professor Fromer pointed out "On the one hand I understand that Duke is trying to disassociate themselves from this. On the other hand they’re drawing attention to it." Looks like sometimes bad publicity is still publicity.
Duke Students Weigh In: Pretentious Stereotypes and UNC Rivalry Humor
What do Duke students think about all this? Well some students feel like "The White Lotus" is just playing into existing stereotypes about Duke being a bit "pretentious." One student mentioned the show sets up a contrast between Duke and UNC Chapel Hill Duke's big rival. In the show the mom and daughter in the Ratliff family are UNC fans. The Duke alumni son is seen as more conservative while the UNC daughter is more "progressive".
One student Jeter Sison felt this was a bit simplistic saying he sees both "Pipers" (the more liberal daughter) and "Saxons" (the more conservative son) at Duke. Another student Clara Smith thought the show's "old-school Southern" vibe fit UNC stereotypes better than Duke's which she sees as more "northeastern-heavy and very California-heavy" and more diverse. Overall some Duke students are not too bothered by the portrayal seeing it as a bit stereotypical but not totally inaccurate or offensive.
Duke vs. The White Lotus: Key Takeaways from this Unexpected Drama
- "The White Lotus" Season 3 features Duke University alumni characters who are involved in controversial storylines.
- Duke University objects to the show's use of their logo especially in a scene where a character in a Duke shirt contemplates suicide.
- Duke cites unauthorized brand use and "troubling" imagery that doesn't align with their values particularly regarding mental health.
- Legal experts believe Duke has limited legal recourse due to First Amendment protections for artistic expression and fair use.
- Duke is focusing on promoting mental health awareness in response to the show's portrayal.
- Some Duke students find the portrayal stereotypical but not entirely inaccurate or deeply offensive.
- The controversy is unfolding during March Madness adding another layer of irony and attention due to Duke's basketball prominence.
Will This Drama Blow Over? The White Lotus and Duke's Unwanted Spotlight
So there you have it a rather unexpected showdown between a hit TV show and a major university. Duke is clearly not happy with "The White Lotus" and they have made their feelings known. Whether this controversy blows over or escalates further remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure it has definitely added another interesting layer to the already buzzworthy "The White Lotus" and given Duke University some unwanted time in the pop culture spotlight right as March Madness heats up. Talk about timing!