Jason Isaacs Vows to Wear Duke T-Shirts ‘Whenever There’s a Camera Around’ Following White Lotus Controversy

• Jason Isaacs addressed the controversy following his White Lotus character wearing a Duke T-shirt while contemplating suicide.
• The university previously issued a statement, noting that the storyline “does not reflect our values or who we are.”
• The actor vowed to wear Duke T-shirts “whenever there’s a camera.”

When Jason Isaacs’ White Lotus character wore a Duke T-shirt, it caused quite a stir at the prestigious university.

In episode 8 of the hit HBO series, Isaacs’ character Timothy Ratliff sported a gray shirt with the school’s name written in blue letters as he contemplated suicide. The storyline led Duke to release a statement, noting it “does not reflect our values or who we are.”

Now, the 61-year-old actor is addressing the controversy. When asked about the “hubbub” surrounding his character sporting a Duke T-shirt during an appearance on SiriusXM’s Literally! With Rob Lowe podcast, Isaacs detailed why he suggested it and the outcry from the university.

“I was talking to Alex [Bovaird], the wonderful Emmy-winning costume designer. I said maybe he wears a Duke t-shirt to sleep in,” he said of his character, who is a Duke alum. “He’s probably president of something and a fundraiser and all the rest of it.”

“So we got a Duke t-shirt for me to wear when I’m sleeping in it, and I’m pretty sure they got it cleared because, as you know, you don’t ever go on television without getting all the logos cleared,” he added.

The OA alum noted that the scenes in which his character is “suicidal and even homicidal” are when he’s “wearing my Duke t-shirt because it’s bedtime.”

“Someone at Duke decided that was really untoward and was not happy with the association,” he added. “Other people online were pointing out that there are real-life alumni of Duke to be far more worried about than a fictional alumni.”

Following the episode, in which Isaacs’ character held a gun to his head while wearing the shirt, Duke claimed to The New York Times that the hit series went “too far.”

Frank Tramble, Duke’s vice president of communications, marketing and public affairs, told the Times in an emailed statement that “Duke appreciates artistic expression and creative storytelling, but characters prominently wearing apparel bearing Duke’s federally registered trademarks creates confusion and mistakenly suggests an endorsement or affiliation where none exists.”

Tramble added that White Lotus, which wrapped its third season earlier this month, “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.”

Following the controversy, Isaacs said, “Hilariously, I was stuck at Charlotte Airport the other day, and my suitcases hadn’t arrived where I was going. So I bought a t-shirt at the airport with a devil on it, not realizing it was a Duke t-shirt.”

“But then I was in Virginia and people drove from Durham, North Carolina very sweetly to come. They drove just to tell me that they thought my accent was accurate and I shouldn’t listen to the people who don’t know what a Durham North Carolina accent is,” he added. “And they brought me Duke t-shirts. So I now have a selection of Duke t-shirts. I didn’t wear one today. If I’d known I’d have it on now, but I am intending to wear them whenever there’s a camera around.”

“So, sorry, Duke, there goes my honorary degree,” he joked.

The actor kicked off the tradition at The White Lotus season 3 finale party on April 6. Isaacs stepped out in a bright blue shirt bearing a Blue Devil, a gray suit and a yellow pin while walking the red carpet at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, Calif.

The White Lotus is available to stream on Max.