Duke University Students React to Their Representation in The White Lotus
Duke University may not fully endorse its depiction in the latest season of HBO’s acclaimed series, The White Lotus, yet it appears that many of its students hold a contrasting viewpoint. The show’s premiere on February 16 introduced viewers to the fictional Ratliff family, whose dynamic highlights the longstanding rivalry between Duke and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC).
In the premiere, matriarch Victoria Ratliff, played by Parker Posey, shares familial ties to both institutions: “I was also a [UNC] Tar Heel, but [husband] Timothy went to Duke. [Son] Saxon graduated from Duke, and our youngest, [son] Lachlan, just got accepted to both. So, you can imagine it’s a whole thing.” This rivalry, while largely unnoticed by the resort staff in the show, resonated deeply with Duke students who experience it firsthand.
Nayeli Chowdhury, a doctoral student in physical therapy at Duke, expressed enthusiasm regarding how her university was showcased in the show. “There was definitely a level of excitement with my friends and people in the program,” she remarked, noting the familiarity with the Duke-UNC rivalry portrayed.
As the series unfolded, sophomore Olivia Prusky found it “super interesting”that her school’s image could be so controversially depicted. A pivotal scene features Jason Isaacs’ character, Timothy Ratliff, who contemplates suicide while wearing a Duke T-shirt—a moment that certainly sparked a wave of online memes, especially concerning Duke’s performance in the NCAA basketball championship.
A post on social media even amassed over three million views, leading Duke to issue an official statement in response. Frank Tramble, Duke’s Vice President of Communications, condemned the use of Duke logos in The White Lotus, stating that the show’s “imagery is troubling, does not reflect our values or who we are, and simply goes too far.”
In discussing how the episode would impact public perception, sophomore Alex Berkman anticipated the online discourse surrounding it. “This is going to be used as a number of memes, let’s say, if Duke goes on to lose in the Final Four,” he noted, predicting accurately as Duke faced elimination against the Houston Cougars.
As expected, following Duke’s loss, numerous memes based on the controversial scene flooded social media. “We knew we would see that picture a bunch of times,” Chowdhury commented, reflecting on the inevitability of the online reaction.
While the show’s creators may not have intended to generate problematic content, Prusky maintained that the series did not damage her school’s reputation. “I think our reputation stands on its own,” she explained. “Duke is known for being intellectually and culturally diverse, which has solid foundations.”
This representation in a popular TV series can be disconcerting, particularly when it prompts an unexpected response from the university. “It was definitely surprising to see the university’s response,” Prusky admitted. Yet, despite the school’s public condemnation of the scene, Berkman, Chowdhury, and Prusky noted a lack of direct communication from Duke regarding resources for students.
Berkman reflected on the sensitivity of the issue, suggesting that Duke’s response might have inadvertently drawn even more attention to the school than it intended. “Their statement doesn’t actually do anything,” he said, proposing that the university might have prioritized its public image over other considerations.
Duke alum and entertainment lawyer Merlyne Jean-Louis countered, asserting that the school needed to address the situation to protect its well-established brand. While she doesn’t foresee legal action against the show, she believes the university simply wanted to cover its bases with a public statement. “I’m sure the Duke Council consulted to come up with the best strategy for that,” she added.
Despite the controversial portrayal and Duke’s recent NCAA setback, the loyalty of the Blue Devils remains unshaken. Berkman concluded, “To me, it’s never that serious. It’s television—it’s really high-quality television.”