Megyn Kelly Slams Sydney Sweeney Over Controversial ‘Euphoria’ Scene: ‘This is Sexualizing Infancy’
Megyn Kelly unleashed her criticism on Sydney Sweeney, condemning the actress for a controversial teaser from HBO’s “Euphoria” that she claims crosses a troubling boundary.
“This is sexualizing infancy,” Kelly stated during Tuesday’s episode of SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Show.”
The conservative commentator reacted to a newly unveiled preview for Season 3, which hints at Sweeney’s character exploring an OnlyFans-style narrative.
In vivid detail, Kelly described the clip, noting Sweeney appears “dressed as a baby … sucking on a binky pacifier” while her “legs … completely spread.”
“I can’t believe she agreed to this frankly and was in this,” Kelly remarked, expressing disbelief over Sweeney's participation.
This backlash coincides with the premiere of Season 3, which has already ignited controversy due to the kink-coded imagery associated with Sweeney’s character, criticized as degrading and fetishistic.
Labeling the pacifier scene as “sick,” Kelly accused the show of prioritizing shock value over responsible storytelling.
She did not hold back in her critique of the show’s creator, Sam Levinson. “I think this guy’s sick … Sam Levinson,” she asserted.
Kelly referenced reports indicating that Sweeney and other actresses have resisted Levinson’s suggestions for increased nudity in scenes.
Several actresses from “Euphoria,” including Sweeney, have voiced discomfort regarding the level of nudity scripted into the series.
“He constantly wants the women to take their clothes off for, like, scenes that don’t require them to be nude at all,” Kelly said, highlighting Levinson's approach.
She framed this controversy within a larger cultural critique of Hollywood. “I think this is another example of Hollywood not understanding at all where the line is,” Kelly noted.
“And how most normal people are going to recoil … in response to what’s essentially the sexualization of a child, of a baby.”
As anticipation builds for the new season of “Euphoria,” which significantly contributed to Sweeney’s rise to fame, the teaser suggests her character, Cassie, may transition into a social media influencer role, potentially involving adult content platforms.
Sweeney has previously addressed concerns about nudity in the series, asserting that she has pushed back against scenes she deemed unnecessary.
Kelly’s recent criticism marks a stark contrast to her earlier praise for Sweeney. Last year, she lauded the actress as a “real” and “natural” beauty while defending her during backlash over an American Eagle ad campaign.
The campaign quickly became a cultural flashpoint, yet American Eagle supported both it and Sweeney amid the controversy, resulting in increased sales and brand awareness.
At that time, Kelly commended Sweeney for navigating the situation “like a boss.”
However, Kelly later suggested that Sweeney had “caved” to industry pressures after she spoke out more directly about the backlash.
The journalist has also critiqued some of Sweeney’s red carpet fashion choices.
Sweeney told People that her involvement in the American Eagle ad stemmed from her love for the brand and emphasized her stance against hate and divisiveness, countering negative interpretations of the campaign.
The network has been approached for comments regarding this ongoing situation involving HBO, Sweeney, and Levinson.
