Euphoria launched the careers of new Hollywood stars such as Zendaya (29), the show's lead, Jacob Elordi (28), and Sydney Sweeney (28). It was an instant hit, a springboard to success. However, the HBO series, which premieres its third and final season this weekend, has been mired in controversy almost from the start. The creator and director, Sam Levinson (41), has faced criticism since the project got underway because, according to the press and some viewers, it romanticizes drug use and the scenes involving teenagers are controversial. Additionally, it was also reported that the atmosphere on set was "toxic."
The project was conceived as a sort of autobiography of Sam Levinson, son of film director Barry Levinson. His teenage opioid addiction inspired him to develop this work. In the beginning, Zendaya and he had a good relationship, and the actress even took a step further in terms of involvement, becoming an executive producer of the series. However, Zendaya distanced herself from Sam Levinson as the director focused on another of his creations, The Idol, -which was labeled as "raw, disgusting, and sexist"-.
The actress is very private and professional in terms of carefully choosing the messages she sends. This also led to a falling out with Sydney Sweeney, who starred in an advertising campaign for the American Eagle jeans brand with a slogan playing on "white supremacy." Archives also revealed some connections of the blue-eyed blonde with Trump's Republican party. All these issues made Zendaya avoid coinciding with her on the red carpets.
Another controversy involving one of the Euphoria characters is related to actress Barbie Ferreira (29). She does not appear in this new season because she left the series in the second season. Rumors about her abrupt departure stemmed from her relationship with the director, even suggesting that the atmosphere was so bad that at one point, the actress walked off the set. After the commotion, she stated that her character had reached its end and both she and the director agreed that Kat's story had concluded. "I don't know if it was going to do her justice, and I think we both knew that. I didn't want to be the fat friend. I didn't want to play that role, and I think they didn't want that either," she expressed. After leaving the show, the actress, who was a body positivity advocate, underwent a physical transformation and became very thin. Speculations arose about the use of Ozempic, something the actress has not confirmed.
Another controversial aspect of the series has been the hypersexualization and the way explicit relationships are portrayed on screen. Sydney Sweeney's case is one of the most obvious examples. *The New Yorker* magazine described the series as "sadly pornographic." One of the most shocking moments in the series is when the character played by Hunter Schafer (27) has a sexual relationship with the father of one of her high school classmates. These events led the conservative U.S. organization Parents Television Council to demand that HBO cancel the series.
Death has also added a dose of curse to Euphoria. Eric Dane himself passed away on February 19 due to ALS at the age of 53. Despite this tragedy, his death was not the most tragic. In 2023, Angus Cloud died from an accidental overdose, the actor who portrayed the drug dealer Fezco. He was only 25 years old, and his loss caused all the stars of the series, starting with Zendaya, to need time to process it. A few months after this tough moment, one of the most important producers of the show, Kevin Turen, passed away at the age of 44.
The pandemic delayed the premiere of the second season, and the third season has also been delayed due to the Hollywood writers' strike and the difficulty of coordinating the schedules of its already successful cast.
Despite this series of unfortunate events, Euphoria is a phenomenon. It is HBO's most-watched series after Game of Thrones and is as controversial as it is addictive. In this new season, the characters leap five years into the future and are no longer in high school.
Moreover, part of the addiction that Euphoria generates in Spain is due to the participation of now universal stars like Rosalía (33). This third installment features the singer portraying a nightclub dancer who crosses paths with Rue, the character played by Zendaya. The creator of Lux had already "appeared" in the series when her song Lo Vas a Olvidar, which she shares with Billie Eilish, played in one of the episodes. She was also rumored to be romantically linked to Hunter Schafer, something neither of them confirmed.
On the other hand, Spanish-Puerto Rican actress Priscilla Delgado (24) is also part of the latest season of the series. In Spain, she rose to fame as a child in the Antena 3 series Los Protegidos. Amid talent, controversy, and tragedies, Euphoria is one of those series that push boundaries, provoke, and keep the viewer hooked.