Warning: This post contains spoilers for “The White Lotus.”
“The White Lotus” star Jason Isaacs isn’t too concerned about Duke University’s displeasure at his Season 3 character — a Duke alum-turned-white-collar criminal who abuses his wife’s Lorazepam medication — wearing a school T-shirt on the show.
The hit HBO show’s third season was set at the fictional White Lotus resort in Thailand and was filmed in Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui. Isaacs played Timothy Ratliff, a proud North Carolinian who learns during a family vacation that he is wanted by the FBI for financial crimes.
The character most notably wore the Duke University attire during an emotionally wrenching scene in which he holds a gun to his head and considers taking his life. The scene quickly caught the attention of the school’s vice president for communications, marketing and public affairs.
“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,” Frank Tramble told HuffPost in a statement last month after the sixth episode aired.
“Suicide is the second-leading cause of death on college campuses,” the official continued.
Isaacs suspected that the university’s statement didn’t stem purely from sincere concern.
“I don’t like anyone getting upset about anything, but clearly, it was just someone fancying seeing their name online and, in some department, wanting to go viral,” Isaacs said on Wednesday’s episode of the “Prestige Junkie” podcast.
“Their real-life alumni are such a rogue’s gallery, many of them, that the notion that this rather spiritually enlightened character on television caused them any trouble is fanciful and ridiculous,” he continued.
While at least one Duke alum told the Hollywood Reporter that Duke “absolutely had to say something” publicly to protect the school’s “very strong brand,” many current students told the outlet that Ratliff’s attire made for funny memes — or was simply nice to see on TV.
“To me, it’s never that serious,” sophomore Alex Berkman told THR. “It’s television.”
Isaacs gave a sartorial wink to the controversy at the screening for the season finale, where he wore a T-shirt featuring Duke’s Blue Devil mascot.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/HBO/Getty Images
“I bought the T-shirt because the airline canceled my flight and took my bags away, and I had nothing to change into in the morning,” Isaacs said on the podcast. “It was the only outlet there [to buy clothes from].”
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“I also thought it might cause a bit of mischief, which I think it did,” he said about the shirt.
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
