Speculation surrounding a bitter feud between Euphoria stars Sydney Sweeney and Zendaya has intensified after Sweeney was conspicuously missing from a key group photo in a new season three teaser. The absence follows previous reports that Zendaya had refused to conduct joint press appearances with her co-star.
Political Differences Allegedly Fuel Tension
Back in November 2025, the Daily Mail revealed that Zendaya, aged 29, was declining to participate in promotional activities alongside Sydney Sweeney for the upcoming third season of the hit HBO drama. Sources indicated that the root of their strained relationship stemmed from clashing political viewpoints, which allegedly led to their refusal to stand near each other at public events.
Teaser Photo Sparks Fan Reactions
HBO recently released a promotional video on social media platforms X and TikTok, captioned: 'Taking the smallest moments and dreaming them up into something bigger. #Euphoria.' The clip features Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, and Maude Apatow laughing and posing together on set in an intimate group shot. However, Sydney Sweeney is entirely absent from this scene.
Eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed the omission and flooded comment sections with observations and theories. Comments ranged from 'Notice how Sydney wasn’t in the group photo' to more pointed remarks like 'lmao zendaya said NO promo with sydney and she meant it.' Some supporters defended Sweeney, suggesting she was 'too booked and busy,' while others questioned whether the exclusion was intentional, with one user asking, 'They leavin her out on purpose or sum drama brewin with Zendaya?'
Euphoria's Continued Success and New Season Details
The American teen drama Euphoria, adapted from Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin's original series, premiered on HBO in 2019 to critical acclaim and a massive fan following. A second season aired in 2022, and anticipation is high for the third season, scheduled for release on April 12, 2026, on HBO and Max. Filming commenced in February 2025.
The show, created and written by Sam Levinson, explores the tumultuous lives of a group of teenagers navigating issues of sexuality, identity, and friendship. The ensemble cast includes Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Jacob Elordi, Algee Smith, and Javon Walton, alongside the female leads. New additions for the upcoming season reportedly include Danielle Deadwyler, Natasha Lyonne, and Eli Roth.
Availability and Future Prospects
Euphoria airs on HBO and is available for streaming on Sky and NOW in the United Kingdom. As the release date approaches, fans remain divided over the alleged feud, with many hoping for reconciliation, while others speculate on how the off-screen dynamics might influence the on-screen narrative. The absence of Sydney Sweeney from promotional materials continues to fuel discussions about the real-life tensions behind one of television's most popular series.
