Former EastEnders actor Joshua Pascoe has come to the defence of Hollywood star Sydney Sweeney, arguing that the Euphoria actress receives unfair criticism simply because she is 'blessed with boobs and blonde hair'. Pascoe, who played Ben Mitchell on the BBC soap from 2010 to 2012, spoke exclusively to the Daily Star about the backlash Sweeney faces.
Pascoe Praises Sweeney's Performance
Pascoe revealed that he has been watching the latest season of Euphoria and that Sweeney's storyline is a key reason he continues to tune in. 'I'm watching Euphoria, that's really good. Sydney Sweeney has been getting pelters and, I must admit, not because of the way she looks, but I'm only really watching it for her storyline. Probably because it's an [adult site] storyline actually,' he said.
The 28-year-old actress has faced online criticism over the show's increasingly explicit scenes, but Pascoe believes she is simply doing her job well. 'I can understand why people are obsessed. I think she's great in it. I think she plays her character so well. This season has been her best season,' he added.
The Reason Behind the Backlash
While Pascoe admits the latest series may not match the earlier ones overall, he insists Sweeney has been a standout performer. He also offered his own theory about why she attracts so much criticism: 'I think I know why she gets slack. It's because she's a young girl and she's been blessed with blonde hair and boobs. I think people like throwing shade at people.'
Pascoe, who left EastEnders in 2012 before moving into construction and launching a successful online subscription platform, emphasised that talent should matter more than appearance. 'I don't know what she's like as a person, I've never met her, but at the end of the day she can act and she's doing her job well. That's the thing – they probably slate her, but they'll still watch the film she's in,' he said.
Euphoria's Raunchy Content
Pascoe also suggested that the criticism may be linked to Euphoria's provocative storylines. 'The only thing I would say is this season of Euphoria is really raunchy – like, really raunchy as hell. Maybe people like throwing shade at her because of that, but not being funny, if you listen to Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, she's nothing compared to those,' he shared.
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