Duke University Criticizes 'The White Lotus' Over Use of Logo in Controversial Scene

The university condemned HBO for unauthorized use of its trademark in a scene portraying sensitive mental health issues, while leveraging the incident to promote suicide prevention awareness.

Duke University has publicly denounced 'The White Lotus' for featuring its logo on a T-shirt worn by a character in a scene depicting suicidal ideation, stating the depiction 'goes too far.'
The university expressed concerns that the portrayal could create confusion about endorsement or affiliation with the show, which it firmly denies.
Duke emphasized the importance of mental health awareness, noting that suicide is the second-leading cause of death on college campuses, and used the incident to promote available resources for help.
Legal experts suggest that Duke has limited legal recourse against HBO due to First Amendment protections for artistic expression, despite the unauthorized use of its logo.
HBO has declined to comment on the controversy, while the scene has gone viral on social media, with some users tying it to NCAA March Madness memes.