Fans have expressed shock and disapproval over HBO’s Season 3 teaser for euphoria. In a notable scene, Cassie Howard, portrayed by Sidney Sweeney, is depicted dressed as a baby, wearing a sheer top and holding a pacifier.
While controversy isn’t new for the series, viewers seem to feel that the show has crossed a line, especially following its Season 3 premiere.
One user on X expressed strong distaste, stating, “The footage of Sidney Sweeney dressed as a sexed baby on that TV show might be one of the most disgusting things I’ve seen in a while.” They emphasized a need to discuss Hollywood’s promotion of troubling themes.
Another commenter noted, “Sidney Sweeney in season 3 is literally just humiliating her,” questioning the purpose behind dressing her like a baby and giving her a pacifier.
A third voice added, “Sidney Sweeney doesn’t have to accept every humiliating role. She could just say no,” raising a point about her agency.
“Does Sydney know she can say no to things?” another user echoed the concern.
One user remarked simply, “They defiled Kathy,” while another expressed disbelief: “Oh my god, Sidney Sweeney does that in Euphoria?”
“I’m surprised they let Sydney do this at this stage in her career,” reflected another user.
Another person commented, “Sidney Sweeney embodies selling her soul to Hollywood. She’s literally like an empty puppet for the viewers.”
A clip was shared showing Sweeney’s character pretending to be a dog in an intimate exchange with Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi. Nate tells her, “You’ve been a bad, bad dog,” to which Cassie playfully responds, “Woof, woof.”
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In a rather striking comment, one user stated, “I have no idea whether Season 3 was made for pedophiles or zoophiles,” highlighting the discomfort some viewers feel. Another remarked, “This is extremely embarrassing for Jacob too. But how could Sidney Sweeney agree to something like this? It’s like a humiliation ritual.”
“What the heck is this?” queried another user, while another made a sardonic comment about Sweeney’s actions being a way to avoid Emmy nominations.
In interviews, euphoria creator Sam Levinson has revealed that Season 3 will include a scene where Lou Bennett (Zendaya) attempts to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in a vehicle.
Levinson recounted visiting DEA consultants and noting pictures of various drug busts on their walls, which sparked an idea for the show. “What happened here?” he asked after seeing a photo of a Jeep stuck on the border wall. The consultant revealed, “Some idiot tried to cross the border in a car loaded with cocaine.”
Levinson felt this would suit Lou’s character but faced logistical issues with using the actual border wall. “The answer was no, so we built a 200-foot border wall in the middle of the desert,” he explained, adding that Zendaya’s character remains calm and collected as she navigates the tense situation.
