Actress Sydney Sweeney has returned to screens with the highly anticipated third season of HBO's Euphoria, but her portrayal of Cassie Howard is sparking intense controversy. The 28-year-old star faces a fresh wave of backlash for the character's raunchy new storyline, which sees Cassie become an OnlyFans creator, a move that has ignited outrage among viewers who accuse Sweeney of perpetuating sexualisation.
Social Media Erupts with Criticism
Social media platforms were quickly inundated with negative reactions as fans expressed their dismay. Many viewers pointed to scenes where Sweeney's character appears dressed as a baby with pigtails and a dummy, or shakes her bottom in a barely-there thong and skimpy puppy costume while straddling furniture. Critics have lambasted the actress, questioning why she consistently takes on roles that involve explicit content.
Comments flooded in, with users writing: 'Why does Sydney Sweeney always have to sexualise things?' and 'Can Sydney Sweeney go one week without doing anything sexual?' Others pleaded, 'Can somebody tell Sydney Sweeney that not every role she plays has to be sexual?' This backlash highlights a recurring theme in Sweeney's career, where she has often been typecast as the 'sexualised,' 'sensual,' or 'emotionally complicated' character since rising to fame with Euphoria in 2019.
Sweeney's Previous Comments on Sexualisation
In a 2022 interview with The Independent, Sweeney addressed the double standards in Hollywood, noting a 'stigma against actresses who get naked on screen.' She argued that while male actors receive praise and awards for similar scenes, female actors face harsh criticism. 'When a guy has a sex scene or shows his body, he still wins awards and gets praise. But the moment a girl does it, it’s completely different,' she stated.
Sweeney admitted that it 'bothered' her that much of the attention on her performances focused solely on nude scenes, rather than her acting prowess. She expressed pride in her work on Euphoria but lamented that critics only took notice after her role in The White Lotus. 'People are loving me. They’re going: "Oh my God, what’s she doing next?" I was like: "Did you not see that in Euphoria? Did you not see that in The Handmaid’s Tale?"' she recounted.
Feeling Dehumanised by Online Scrutiny
By 2024, Sweeney's frustration had deepened. In a conversation with Variety, she revealed feeling 'dehumanised' by the constant online scrutiny over her body. 'I see it, and I just can't allow myself to have a reaction. I don't know how to explain it - I'm still trying to figure it out myself,' she shared. Sweeney described a 'weird relationship' where people feel entitled to comment on her life because she is an actor, stripping her of her humanity. 'People feel connected and free to be able to speak about me in whatever way they want, because they believe that I've signed my life away,' she added.
History of Typecasting in Recent Roles
Sweeney's career has been marked by roles that emphasise sexuality. In the 2025 film adaptation of The Housemaid, she played Millie Calloway, a character with a criminal record who engages in an affair with her employer, featuring numerous nude scenes and a steamy hotel sex scene with co-star Brandon Sklenar. Similarly, in the 2021 erotic thriller The Voyeurs, she portrayed Pippa, going topless in a saucy scene, and in the 2023 romantic comedy Anyone But You, she starred in a sexy shower scene with Glen Powell.
Euphoria Season Three Receives Mixed Reviews
The backlash against Sweeney coincides with broader criticism of Euphoria season three. Creator Sam Levinson reportedly had a $200 million budget for the series, which follows the East Highland High School students as adults after a five-year break. However, the gamble has not paid off entirely, with the season scoring a dismal 42% 'rotten' rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One viewer branded the revival an 'expensive mistake you didn't have to make.'
Fans have also questioned the return of cast members like Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney, with some claiming Elordi appears uncommitted, 'physically forcing himself through every take.' Meanwhile, Sweeney's scenes have been described as a 'humiliation ritual,' particularly those depicting her character filming OnlyFans content in degrading costumes.
Graphic Scenes Spark Viewer Disgust
Beyond the sexual content, viewers have warned others not to watch the show while eating due to graphic scenes involving vomiting and diarrhoea. In one particularly nauseating sequence, characters Rue and Faye, played by Zendaya and Chloe Cherry, struggle to swallow lube-covered balloons of fentanyl to smuggle drugs across the Mexico-US border. The extraction process is even more gruesome, involving defecation in a strainer later used to serve spaghetti, and a dog eating excrement during a bout of explosive diarrhoea.
As the debate rages on, Sydney Sweeney continues to navigate the complex intersection of artistic expression and public perception, grappling with the consequences of her roles in an industry that often reduces her to her physicality.
