Duke Has Checked Out of ‘The White Lotus,’ But What Do Its Students Think of That Controversial Scene?

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It appears that Duke University might have some reservations about how it was depicted in the third season of “The White Lotus,” yet its students seem to hold a more favorable opinion of the show.

On February 16th, HBO introduced viewers to the Ratliff family, a group of five characters based in North Carolina who appear to be embroiled in a century-old feud – the rivalry between Duke University and its neighbor, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In the first episode, matriarch Victoria Ratliff (played by Parker Posey) explains their situation: “I was also a Tar Heel, but my husband Timothy went to Duke. Our eldest son Saxon graduated from Duke, our youngest Lachlan has been accepted into both schools, so you can imagine the tension.” Although the resort workers and guests were oblivious to this rivalry, it became a significant plot point for the Ratliffs, one that their students are all too familiar with.

Nayeli Chowdhury, a student pursuing her doctorate in physical therapy at Duke University, shared with The Hollywood Reporter that there was indeed a sense of excitement among her friends and peers when her school made an appearance in the first episode of the HBO show. She personally found it intriguing to learn about it and appreciated the portrayal of the Duke-UNC rivalry, as she is well-acquainted with this longstanding competition.

Over the course of the series, Olivia Prusky, a sophomore at Blue Devil High School, expressed her fascination as scenes featuring her school were portrayed in a contentious manner. This was particularly true when the character played by Jason Isaacs, Timothy Ratliff, a fictional Duke alumnus, grappled with suicidal thoughts and displayed the school’s emblem on his T-shirt while brandishing a gun.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel like I just witnessed a major cultural event unfold when a single post about Duke’s NCAA basketball championship fate sparked a wave of memes. One particular X-post really struck a nerve, gathering over 3 million views and even prompting Duke to issue an official response, directly addressing the use of the imagery in a lighthearted manner that was deemed inappropriate.

Frank Tramble, Duke University’s Vice President for Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs, stated to THR that Duke University did not grant permission for its symbols to be used in “The White Lotus.” He also criticized the show’s portrayal as being disturbing, contradictory to our values, and crossing a line.

Following the viewing of episode six, Duke sophomore Alex Berkman expressed his instant conviction that the visual would be transformed into a humorous internet meme.

Initially, beyond the chilling nature of it all, my thought was, ‘I can see this turning into a hilarious internet sensation.’ If Duke were to lose in the Final Four, as they did on Saturday evening, this very moment would undoubtedly be used in countless memes.

Following Duke’s defeat in the Final Four against the Houston Cougars, numerous memes based on the dramatic scene flooded the internet, an event that both Chowdhury and Berkman anticipated. “We were well aware that image would be shared frequently,” Chowdhury commented further. “We simply knew it would become a topic of discussion.

As a devoted fan, I find myself in a similar situation to the locals of North Carolina when it comes to the TV show “White Lotus.” The intense rivalry between Duke and UNC may have been lost on its characters, but not on us natives. Similarly, the show’s creator might not have intended to create a controversial meme, but here we are. However, just like Prusky, I don’t believe that the show casts a negative light on my beloved school; instead, it offers an intriguing perspective from an outsider’s point of view.

As a loyal fan, I firmly believe that Duke’s standing speaks for itself. Duke is renowned for fostering an intellectually stimulating and culturally rich environment, a reputation that has solid roots and stands tall on its own merits, built over time with dedication and passion.

Watching your university appear on one of the most widely-watched TV shows might feel unsettling, and the school’s reaction to the depiction of suicidal ideation was equally surprising for some students. “I must say, the university’s reaction caught me off guard,” Prusky stated. ” frankly, I wasn’t expecting it.” Although the college released a public statement condemning the controversial White Lotus scene, Berkman, Chowdhury and Prusky don’t remember Duke extending support to students by providing resources directly.

Berkman feels that the show handled delicate topics, and by issuing their statement, the university may have drawn more focus to Duke than they likely desired. He further explained, “The statement doesn’t take any action… I believe Duke was so worried it would harm their reputation, which is why they made a statement.

From another perspective, Duke alumna and entertainment lawyer Merlyne Jean-Louis feels it was necessary for the university to issue a statement to safeguard their highly regarded reputation. Although their response garnered attention, Jean-Louis mentioned that she doesn’t foresee Duke taking legal action against the producers of White Lotus or HBO. Instead, the statement was likely issued as a precautionary measure to protect their brand image.

She mentioned that some people believe Duke might have employed their statement in various ways, but I’m confident that the Duke Council consulted with the higher-ups at Duke and devised the most effective strategy for the situation instead.

Despite Duke suffering a loss in the Final Four game and some mixed feelings about their portrayal in “The White Lotus”, this setback has not dampened the unwavering spirit of its dedicated fanbase, the Blue Devils.

Berkman found it not to be a major concern. “It’s just TV,” he said, emphasizing its top-notch quality.

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2025-04-07 02:24