HBO’s hit teen drama Euphoria is no stranger to controversy. Since the series debuted back in 2019, it’s been hailed and decried for its vivid depictions of drug use and teen sexuality.
This time around, however, it’s the show’s creator, Sam Levinson , who is receiving the bulk of the backlash after several of his actresses began voicing concerns regarding the use of nudity .
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‘Euphoria’ has fastly become one of the most popular shows on television.
When incredible acting meets exceptional writing, great things are bound to happen. Each and every aspect of Euphoria , from the makeup down to the cinematography, help to elevate the series into a category unto itself.
However, all great art is controversial, and ‘Euphoria’ is no exception.
Since its debut back in 2019, Euphoria has turned many a critic and audience member’s head due to its vivid and graphic depiction of teen sexuality and drug use.
Now, show creator Sam Levinson is once again in the hot seat after several of his actresses have begun speaking out about the overt nudity.
A newcomer to the set, Minka Kelly, expressed her own feelings of discomfort in a recent interview with Vanity Fair . In Minka’s inaugural episode, there’s a racy scene that involves Maddy (Alexa Demie) unzipping Samantha’s (Minka Kelly) dress.
According to Minka, creator Sam Levinson’s original version was much steamier.
“He thought it would be more interesting if my dress fell to the ground,” Minka recalled. “That was my first day as a guest on this new show, and I just didn’t feel comfortable standing there naked .”
Minka also made sure to point out that Levinson listened to her objections, and rewrote the scene accordingly.
“I said, ‘I’d love to do this scene, but I think we can keep my dress on,’” she told the director. “He was like, ‘Okay!’ He didn’t even hesitate .”
Minka’s problem with her nude scene mirrors remarks made by Sydney Sweeney earlier this year.
Sydney told The Independent how there were certain moments where her character, Cassie, was supposed to be topless. Instead of acquiescing, Sydney explained how she felt it was unnecessary.
Once again, Sam rewrote the scene without argument.
“I’ve never felt like Sam has pushed it on me or was trying to get a nude scene into an HBO show,” Sweeney said. “When I didn’t want to do it, he didn’t make me .”
Not long after Sydney’s comments began making the rounds, actress Chloe Cherry (Faye) expressed her own on-set issues
Chloe’s very first scene involves her on-screen boyfriend Tyler Chase (Custer) stuffing her blood-soaked body into a vent. According to Chloe, Sam Levinson’s original vision was far more x-rated than the one fans saw.
“Sam wanted to do the scene with me completely naked and Tyler was like, ‘That’s a lot,’ so they decided not to,” Chloe explained to the Daily Beast.
While it’s clear that Sam Levinson is staunchly opposed to filming anything that would make his actors/actresses uncomfortable, several fans are now beginning to voice their own discomfort and are accusing Sam of pushing boundaries.
Levinson’s critics are arguing that these aren’t isolated incidents and that the creator is displaying a pattern of concerning behavior.
Just because Minka, Sydney, and Chloe have been the only three women (so far) to speak up regarding the show’s use of nudity, doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re the only ones with an issue. There could very well be others who are less inclined to make their voices heard.
Others have come to Sam’s defense, making sure to point out how in each instance Sam rewrote the scene without hesitating.
It’s great that Sam has shown himself to be so receptive, but perhaps his critics and actors on set have a point. If the cast, as well as the audience, have such a problem with the nudity would it be the worst thing in the world for him to tone it down?
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