Euphoria Season 3’s highly anticipated finale dropped on May 31 2026, following which, its lead stars, Sydney Sweeney (playing ‘Cassie’), Jacob Elordi (playing ‘Nate’), and Zendaya (playing ‘Rue’) are once again in focus. The show has been leading fan discussion forums due to its controversial storyline, particularly ‘Cassie’s’ OnlyFans puppy roleplay and her NSFW scenes, including one in which she cosplays as a baby in a diaper. Amid the backlash surrounding her role, the defence of her on-screen nudity and comparison of fan reactions to male vs female actors have come under focus.
Sydney Sweeney opened up about the criticism she faced due to her Euphoria character
Sydney Sweeney has opened up multiple times about the audience’s reaction to her racy role in Euphoria. She expressed frustration with how audiences blend her personal identity with the roles she plays, specifically her portrayal of ‘Cassie Howard’ in Euphoria. During a chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Sydney shared the feeling that her on-screen nudity led to her being reduced to a “sex symbol”, which overshadows her performance as an actor. During an interview with Cosmopolitan, she pointed out the double standards in audience reaction to male vs female 18+ scenes. Regarding that, she was quoted as saying:
“There are hour-long compilations of world-famous male actors with nude scenes who win Oscars and get praised for that work. But the moment a woman does it, it degrades them. ‘They’re not actresses, they just take off their tops so they can get a role.’ There’s such a double standard and I really hope that I can have a part in changing that.”
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