Sydney Sweeney pushed to keep NSFW scenes in 'Euphoria', creator Sam Levinson says

Euphoria creator Sam Levinson has revealed that actress Sydney Sweeney pushed to keep her explicit scenes in the show’s third season, arguing that they were essential to the authenticity of her character’s storyline.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Levinson said he initially considered filming the scenes in a more restrained way, suggesting “ways to shoot around certain things” to reduce nudity. However, he said Sweeney strongly disagreed with that approach.

“Are you kidding? I’m playing an OnlyFans model. You’re telling me you’re going to, like, skirt around it?” Sweeney reportedly told him, according to Levinson. He added that he ultimately agreed with her perspective.

The third and final season of Euphoria, which concluded on May 31, followed Sweeney’s character Cassie as she becomes an OnlyFans model in an attempt to fund her dream wedding to Nate, played by Jacob Elordi.

The storyline featured multiple nude scenes that sparked debate among viewers and critics.

Levinson praised Sweeney’s commitment, calling her “totally fearless” and “wonderfully professional,” and said the storyline reflected the show’s broader themes of validation, identity, and modern social media culture.

“There is a level of absurdity to it that is just fun,” he said, explaining that the series aimed to balance authenticity with emotional and social commentary.

He added that Cassie’s arc was a natural extension of her desire for love and external validation.

“It feels to me like the natural progression of social media… you’re the product, you’re the brand,” Levinson said, describing how the show explores attention economies and self-image.

Following the finale, Sweeney appeared to defend her on-screen choices by sharing behind-the-scenes images on Instagram, writing simply: “It’s called… acting.”

The discussion around Sweeney’s role also comes years after she previously said she had asked for certain scenes involving her character to be reduced in earlier seasons, noting that some moments felt unnecessary.

Co-star Alexa Demie has also previously spoken about discomfort with certain early scenes in the series, adding to ongoing conversations among cast members about boundaries and portrayal in the show.