Megyn Kelly Condemns Euphoria's Controversial Baby Scene as 'Sexualizing Infancy'
Television commentator Megyn Kelly has launched a scathing critique of HBO's Euphoria, specifically targeting a controversial scene from the show's third season featuring actress Sydney Sweeney. During a recent episode of her podcast, Kelly analyzed a trailer that depicts Sweeney's character, Cassie Howard, dressed in a baby costume while in a compromising sexual position, which she described as blatantly 'sexualizing infancy.'
Kelly's Blunt Analysis on The Megyn Kelly Show
On Tuesday's installment of The Megyn Kelly Show, the former Fox News anchor dissected the provocative trailer alongside the hosts of the Ruthless podcast. Kelly displayed an image of Sweeney 'spread eagle' on a couch while wearing the infantile outfit, asserting that this content crosses significant ethical boundaries. 'The truth is - this is sexualizing infancy. That's what this is,' Kelly stated emphatically to her cohosts.
She further criticized fans who defended the scene as representing a 'pretty common kink,' and did not hold back in her assessment of the show's creator, Sam Levinson, branding him as 'sick.' Kelly expressed particular shock that Sweeney agreed to participate in such sexually explicit content, referencing another scene from the season premiere where the actress appears dressed as a dog, barking for her romantic partner Nate Jacobs, portrayed by Jacob Elordi.
Targeting Show Creator Sam Levinson
Levinson bore the brunt of Kelly's ire during the discussion. She referenced reports suggesting that some actresses on Euphoria have felt uncomfortable with the extensive nudity required for their roles. Kelly accused Levinson of 'injecting nudity' into scenes purely to compel actresses to disrobe, speculating that performers tolerate these demands due to ambitions of stardom, despite leaked accounts of their discomfort.
Characterizing Levinson as 'at a minimum a jerk, and more than likely - a problem,' Kelly argued that such controversial scenes exemplify 'Hollywood not understanding at all where the line is.' She contended that most 'normal people,' including Sweeney's own fanbase, would recoil at the depiction of the actress dressed as a baby in a sexual context.
Podcast Hosts Echo Kelly's Concerns
The hosts of the Ruthless podcast aligned with Kelly's critical perspective, with one suggesting that Levinson might be working out a 'sick fetish' through the production of Euphoria. Kelly, who admitted she has not watched the series, speculated that the contentious scenes could potentially serve as a commentary on OnlyFans and contemporary porn culture, given that Sweeney's character Cassie is exploring a career as an OnlyFans model in the new season.
Kelly's Complex History with Sydney Sweeney
This is not the first time Kelly has publicly commented on Sydney Sweeney, revealing a pattern of mixed opinions. She previously defended the actress during controversy over an American Eagle advertisement where Sweeney boasted about her 'good jeans/genes,' praising her for handling the situation 'like a boss' while condemning the ad's critics.
However, Kelly expressed disapproval in October when Sweeney wore a see-through silver gown on a red carpet, stating, 'I object to this. I disapprove of the dress she wore because it's completely see-through. You can see her entire nipples.' She did offer some leniency, suggesting the actress might have been pressured into wearing the revealing outfit.
In July, Kelly again mentioned Sweeney in connection with the actress's attendance at Jeff Bezos' wedding to Lauren Sanchez, questioning her presence and remarking, 'Sydney Sweeney’s the new toast of the town out there because she’s got these enormous breasts that everybody’s obsessed with.'
Broader Criticism of Euphoria Season 3
Kelly is far from alone in her criticism of the latest season of Euphoria. The premiere episode, which debuted on Sunday, has attracted a slew of negative reviews focusing on the hyper-sexualized portrayal of female characters. Forbes described the episode as 'a shadow of what it was, at best,' while The Telegraph argued the show had 'descended into one man's creepy, sex-obsessed fantasy.'
Online commentary has labeled the trailer scenes as a 'humiliation ritual,' with viewers describing them as 'gross' and 'nasty.' Sweeney's political views have also come under increased scrutiny since her viral American Eagle ad, adding another layer to the public discourse surrounding her career.
Defense from the Creative Team
In response to the criticism, Sam Levinson has defended the artistic choices in Euphoria. He explained that Sweeney's sexual scenes, including the one where she is dressed as a dog, are intended to 'break the wall' between the audience and the characters, introducing an element of absurdity and highlighting the depressing reality behind the fantasies.
Sweeney herself told The Independent in 2022 that she never felt pressured into performing nude scenes and that Levinson was receptive to her feedback, citing instances where she suggested shirtless scenes were unnecessary and he agreed to omit them.
The Daily Mail has reached out to HBO Max for additional comment regarding Kelly's pointed criticism of the show and its controversial content.
