Sydney Sweeney Fires Back at Euphoria Critics with Bold Instagram Post
Sydney Sweeney, the 28-year-old actress, is not holding back as she faces criticism for her role in Euphoria. Just hours before the third season finale aired, she unleashed a series of behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram, showcasing her time as Cassie Howard.
The post featured intimate moments with co-stars Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, and Maude Apatow, alongside newcomers Rosalía and Anna Van Pattern. Among the images were provocative shots from the season, including one where she posed nearly nude with pasties while a snake coiled around her body.
In a direct jab at her critics, she captioned the post, "It's called... acting." Throughout the final eight episodes, Cassie dives into a career as an adult content creator just before her wedding to high school sweetheart Nate Jacobs, portrayed by Jacob Elordi.
Initially, Cassie steps back from this line of work at Nate's request. However, after discovering his staggering financial troubles amounting to seven figures, she leaves their home and fully commits to her new career.
She enlists her best friend and Nate's ex-girlfriend, Maddie Perez (played by Alexa Demie), to help rebrand and commercialize her adult content business. Cassie expands her customer base by mailing out used underwear, attending casting sessions, and making podcast appearances with viral figures like Trisha Paytas.
The portrayal has ignited fierce debate among viewers. Critics slam the character for using offensive slurs, while supporters argue that Sweeney has "carried the season." Despite the backlash, Sweeney remains "very proud" of her work on Euphoria. In a previous interview, she stated, "I thought it was a great performance. But no one talks about it because I got naked."
Euphoria showrunner Sam Levinson has come to her defense, praising her performance as "brilliant." At The Hollywood Reporter’s Directors in Focus event, he remarked on their professional dynamic, stating, "What’s interesting is if you push it a little bit, she becomes brilliant."
Levinson emphasized that with just a few more takes, Sweeney can reach emotional depths that are both honest and deeply funny. He noted her ability to anchor scenes amid chaos.
Levinson has also been transparent about the show's trajectory. At the premiere, he revealed, "[I write] every season like it’s the last season. [I have] no plans [for season 4]." He aims to finish strong, stating he is still cutting episodes 7 and 8 and putting finishing touches on them. "I just want to deliver a f-king slam dunk season," he declared.
