{"id":242465,"date":"2026-05-26T17:48:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T17:48:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/26\/breaking-down-euphorias-explicit-and-controversial-season-3-scenes-that-have-received-backlash\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T17:48:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T17:48:36","slug":"breaking-down-euphorias-explicit-and-controversial-season-3-scenes-that-have-received-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/26\/breaking-down-euphorias-explicit-and-controversial-season-3-scenes-that-have-received-backlash\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking Down Euphoria\u2019s Explicit \u2014 And Controversial \u2014 Season 3 Scenes That Have Received Backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Euphoria<\/em><\/a>\u2018s long-awaited return has been met with major backlash due to numerous explicit \u2014 and controversial \u2014 scenes.<\/p>\n

The HBO series, which premiered in 2019, has always been known to push boundaries while following teenager Rue\u2019s (Zendaya<\/strong>) attempt<\/a> to remain sober after struggling with addiction.<\/p>\n

While the first two seasons were set in high school, Euphoria<\/em> ultimately introduced a time jump, allowing season 3 to check in on the main characters as adults. But just because everyone got older didn\u2019t mean they were making better decisions \u2014 with season 3 introducing topics such as drug smuggling, sexual assault and more dangerous situations.<\/p>\n

Viewers, meanwhile, have blasted the show<\/a> for pushing boundaries episode to episode with racy \u2014 and sometimes triggering \u2014 moments. Creator Sam Levinson<\/strong> has stood by his vision for the show despite possible offscreen criticism.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>\u2018Euphoria\u2018 Cast: See the HBO Show\u2018s Stars Then and Now<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tEuphoria fans have watched the cast change on and off screen since the series first debuted. Based on the Israeli series of the same name, Euphoria follows troubled high school student Rue (Zendaya) as she struggled to remain sober after rehab. The series also explores topics including mental illness, toxic relationships, sexuality and more. After [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWe have a motto of: Evolve or die,\u201d he told The Hollywood Reporter in April. \u201cWe wanted to make sure we were changing things up.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued: \u201cWe\u2019re seeing them out in the world, in the wider world, and allowing the actors to communicate emotionally through the performance as opposed to in the past, when we did it moreso through camera. We wanted to see them fending for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keep scrolling for a guide to every controversial season 3 scene that wasn\u2019t received well:<\/p>\n

The Drug Smuggling Scenes<\/h2>\n
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HBO<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the season 3 premiere, Rue was reintroduced after a five-year time jump, which showed her new life as a drug mule. A scene minutes into the premiere depicted Rue and Faye (Chloe Cherry<\/strong>) using lube to swallow large quantities of balloons filled with drugs.<\/p>\n

They then had to smuggle the balloons from Mexico to the United States without getting caught. Rue made it home just in time to poop out the balloons, but Faye had \u201can accident\u201d and feces were seen running down her leg before a dog tried to lick some of it off.<\/p>\n

Cassie\u2019s OnlyFans Arc<\/h2>\n
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HBO<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many viewers weren\u2019t thrilled by Cassie\u2019s entire arc being an attempt<\/a> to find success on OnlyFans with sexual photoshoots. From topless photos to pretending to be a baby or a dog, Sydney Sweeney\u2019s scenes verged too close to cringe for some. OnlyFans creators, meanwhile, weren\u2019t thrilled with how their line of work was portrayed on screen.<\/p>\n

The Nazi Memorabilia<\/h2>\n
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\"EUPHORIA\"<\/div>
Eddy Chen \/ \u00a9HBO \/ Courtesy Everett Collection<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Faye\u2019s love interest Wayne (Toby Wallace<\/strong>) wasn\u2019t meant to be a good guy, the numerous Nazi flags and memorabilia featured in his scenes threw viewers off.<\/p>\n

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