Duke Isn’t Happy About The White Lotus’s Merch Use

In a recent statement, Duke University is protesting against the portrayal of its branded merchandise in the third season of HBO’s The White Lotus. Duke’s Vice President for Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs, Frank Tramble, expressed concern that the show uses their brand without permission, and moreover, presents it on content that is troubling, does not align with their values, and crosses a line. Timothy Ratliff, a character played by Jason Isaacs, wears Duke’s merchandise in an episode titled “Denials,” where he fantasizes about a murder-suicide taking place at the White Lotus Spa and Resort. Throughout the season, both Timothy and his wife Victoria Ratliff have referenced North Carolina schools, but only Duke’s merchandise has been shown on screen. In light of this, Duke is using the opportunity to raise awareness about mental health issues on college campuses and remind people that help is available.

Tramble stated that Duke values artistic expression and imaginative storytelling, but using clothing with Duke’s registered trademarks can be confusing and may wrongly imply an endorsement or connection where none exists. Luckily, it seems no one wore school merchandise during the unexpected sibling encounter.

Read More

2025-03-27 00:53