The drama.
“Euphoria” launched its cast into superstardom when it premiered in 2019, but it’s also been a lightning rod of controversy and scandal over its seven years on the air.
In the four years since Season 2 aired in 2022, the show suffered several tragic deaths: cast members Angus Cloud (who died of an overdose at 25 in July 2023) and Eric Dane (who died at 53 in February 2026 following an ALS battle), as well as executive producer Kevin Turen (who died of heart complications at 44 in November 2023).
There have also been claims of a “toxic” environment behind the scenes, and a feud between Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney.
Ahead of Season 3, here’s a look back at all the show’s scandals and behind-the-scenes drama.
Petra Collins reportedly claimed Sam Levinson ‘copied’ her work
Director and photographer Petra Collins reportedly claimed that she worked on “Euphoria” for four months before HBO dropped her for being “too young,” per BuzzFeed News.
Season 1 was known for its signature aesthetic – colorful lighting, sparkles – and in a 2023 interview with Hungarian outlet Punkt, Collins said that after she parted ways with the show, “A year later, I walked out of my apartment and saw this billboard [for ‘Euphoria’], and it’s exactly… a copy of my work. I started crying. I was so shocked.”
A source close to show creator Sam Levinson denied the allegation to the the Daily Beast.
Louis Tomlinson slammed the show
The third episode of Season 1, “Made You Look,” featured an animated sex scene between former One Direction band members Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles, as part of Kat’s (Barbie Ferreira) plot.
In a July 2019 post on Twitter, Tomlinson blasted the sequence, writing, “I can categorically say that I was not contacted nor did I approve it.”
D.A.R.E. slammed ‘Euphoria’ for ‘glorifying’ drugs, Zendaya responded
In February 2022, D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) released a statement blasting “Euphoria” for “misguidedly glorifying and erroneously depicting high-school student drug use.”
That same month, Zendaya told Entertainment Weekly, “Our show is in no way a moral tale to teach people how to live their life or what they should be doing.”
The “Challengers” actress added, “If anything, the feeling behind Euphoria, or whatever we have always been trying to do with it, is to hopefully help people feel a little bit less alone in their experience and their pain.”
Controversy about nudity
The show has been criticized for its sex and nudity, since the characters were in high school the first two seasons.
In 2019, Parents Television Council president Tim Winter told the Hollywood Reporter that the show “appears to be overtly, intentionally marketing extremely graphic adult content — sex, violence, profanity and drug use — to teens and preteens.”
“I don’t think as many people took me seriously in Euphoria because I took my shirt off,” Sweeney told Cosmopolitan in February 2022.
In 2022, she told the Independent that there were moments when her character, Cassie, was supposed to be shirtless and “I would tell Sam, ‘I don’t really think that’s necessary here.’ He was like, ‘OK, we don’t need it.’”
Minka Kelly, who appeared in Season 2, told Vanity Fair in February 2022 that she was initially supposed to be naked in her first scene, but “I just didn’t feel comfortable.”
However, she also said that Levinson was receptive.
“I said, ‘I’d love to do this scene, but I think we can keep my dress on,’” she added. “He was like, ‘OK!’ He didn’t even hesitate. And he shot a beautiful scene and got exactly what he wanted.”
Claims of a ‘toxic’ environment behind the scenes
In February 2022, the Daily Beast published a report with allegations about a toxic environment on set. The report included background actors sending “multiple” complaints to SAG-AFTRA over allegations that they weren’t provided with meals on time, or allowed to use the bathroom.
In January 2022, Elordi told Thrillist that the Season 2 New Year’s Eve party sequence took a week to film. “It’s like being in hell,” he said. “It’s like being in a party that you don’t want to be in. At all. And you can’t wait [to leave].”
However, the Oscar-nominated actor later clarified to GQ in an August 2022 interview that working on that set is “an absolute treat” and “I work myself to the bone for [Levinson].”
Following the Daily Beast report, HBO told Variety in a March 2022 statement, “The well-being of cast and crew on our productions is always a top priority. The production was in full compliance with all safety guidelines and guild protocols.”
The statement added that “it’s not uncommon” for a drama to have “complex shoots” amid COVID protocols, and said, “There were never any formal inquiries raised” with SAG-AFTRA.
Barbie Ferreira’s exit
The Daily Beast’s report of a toxic environment also claimed that Ferreira walked off set, after allegedly disagreeing with Levinson.
The actress, 29, abruptly announced her exit from the show in August 2022, and isn’t in Season 3.
At the time, she wrote on her Instagram Story, “After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character Kat, I’m having to say a very teary-eyed goodbye.”
In March of that year, she told Insider, “I’ve seen so many different things and a lot of it is untrue and some of it is kind of like mundane little things.”
She didn’t address the allegation that she had walked off set or had a feud with Levinson.
“With Season 2, it just felt like the character wasn’t Kat anymore,” she said in an April 10 interview with Collider Ladies Night. “I think everyone knew that the end of the story was there because we didn’t have anything else to put… I mean, obviously there could have been, but it just wasn’t happening.”
Hunter Schafer backlash
Hunter Schafer, 27, who is transgender just like her “Euphoria” character Jules, received backlash in August 2022 for appearing to endorse a social media post blaming the non-binary community for conservative legislation that deems hormone replacement therapy and gender-affirming surgery not medically necessary in Florida.
“hunter schafer hating nonbinary ppl was not on my bingo card but is SO rich white woman of her” one fan slammed the actress on Twitter.
The actress did not respond.
Sam Levinson’s rumored strife with Zendaya
According to a July 2024 Hollywood Reporter story, Zendaya and Levinson used to be “thick as thieves,” but their relationship “cooled” during the four-year hiatus between Seasons 2 and 3.
“Sam was so stressful to everyone around him. He is a person who needs to be handled,” a source told the outlet.
Per the outlet, Zendaya got “frustrated” as Levinson spent more time on his widely panned, since-cancelled 2023 HBO show “The Idol” than he spent on “Euphoria” Season 3.
The outlet reported that the Emmy-winning actress was so “perturbed” that she met with HBO’s top brass, “demanding” to know why Levinson was allowed to spend his time on another show instead of focusing on “Euphoria.”
After Rolling Stone published a March 2023 expose alleging that “The Idol” was “torture porn” and “rape fantasy” of a “toxic man,” Zendaya was more unhappy, according to HR.
She wasn’t involved with “The Idol,” but she was associated with Levinson through “Euphoria” and her “image is pristine,” a source told the outlet.
A source close to Levinson told the outlet that Zendaya was more to blame for the four years between Seasons 1 and 2, because of her film career.
In December 2024, Zendaya told Vanity Fair, “I have been off for a couple years, so [‘Euphoria’ was] not delayed because of my…I’ve been open, just waiting.”
At the Season 3 premiere on April 7, 2026, a fan posted a video on Reddit of Zendaya and Levinson greeting each other and hugging on the red carpet.
When Levinson seemingly beckoned her over to take photos together, “The Drama” star’s publicist rushed her away.
“I’ve definitely gone out and told a friend “hey if so-and-so tries to talk to me, just whisk me away as if there’s an urgent matter that I need to attend to,” one viewer commented on Reddit.
Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney’s rumored feud
Zendaya and Sweeney seemingly avoided each other at the Season 3 premiere.
“Euphoria’ bosses are all too aware the pair do not get along. There were tensions way back … Their paths barely crossed during the making of Season 3,” an insider alleged to the Sun. “During the press tour, any interactions between the pair are being kept to a minimum to avoid any awkward encounters on camera,” they added.
The source claimed that Zendaya’s fiancé, Tom Holland, is one of the reasons for the actress’ alleged feud.
“It was an open secret that Sydney had the hots for Tom and was flirty with him when he would come to set,” the source claimed. “That did not go down well with Zendaya. They have not really hung out socially since then.
According to the Sun, their political differences have also caused a divide between the actresses. Sweeney is a registered Republican in Florida.
“It’s not like they have had a big bust-up, but Zendaya has quietly distanced herself from Syd. Their politics are wildly different,” the insider told the Sun. “It’s a bit of a headache because Zendaya doesn’t want to be associated with a Trump supporter.”
However, another insider told Page Six that feud rumors aren’t accurate.
“They’re both in high demand and working continuously,” the source said.
Nika King commenting about her paycheck
Nika King, who plays Rue’s mother, Leslie Bennett, spoke out about her “Euphoria” paycheck and the long delay between seasons during a 2024 stand up comedy set.
“Season three is coming out — I don’t f–king know. Don’t ask me, I don’t know. … ‘We need season three!’ B–h, I need season three! I haven’t paid my rent in six months,” she said onstage during an appearance at Hollywood Improv.
The actress said she hasn’t booked any roles since “Euphoria” and quipped, “And Zendaya’s over in Paris at Fashion Week. I’m like, b–h, come home! I need you! Mama needs you!”
After the clip went viral, King told the Hollywood Reporter that her comments were intended as “a lighthearted joke.”
Labrinth blasts the show on social media
On March 12, in a since-deleted Instagram post, musician Labrinth, who was on the soundtrack for the show’s first two seasons, slammed the show, writing, “F–K COLUMBIA [Records]…DOUBLE F–K EUPHORIA.”
He did not clarify what he meant, but on April 9, 2026, Levinson said that Labrinth won’t be involved in the Season 3 soundtrack, and instead, Hans Zimmer will supply the music.
He told Rolling Stone that he didn’t know what caused Labrinth’s split from the show, but said, “He’s an incredible collaborator and someone who really built the foundation of the sound of Euphoria.”
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