Duke University Condemns Use of Logo in Controversial 'White Lotus' Scene

The university criticized HBO for unauthorized use of its trademark in a scene depicting suicide, while leveraging the incident to promote mental health awareness.

Duke University has publicly denounced the unauthorized use of its logo in a scene from HBO's 'The White Lotus' Season 3, calling the imagery 'troubling' and misaligned with its values.
The controversial scene features Jason Isaacs' character contemplating suicide while wearing a Duke t-shirt, which has gone viral on social media since its airing on March 16, 2025.
Duke expressed concerns that the depiction could create confusion about an endorsement or affiliation with the show, which the university says does not exist.
HBO has declined to comment on the matter, while legal experts suggest the use of Duke's logo likely falls under fair use protections for artistic expression.
The university has used the incident as an opportunity to highlight suicide prevention and mental health awareness, noting that suicide is the second-leading cause of death on college campuses.

The Sydney Morning Herald