Euphoria creator Sam Levinson is defending Sidney Sweeney’s shocking OnlyFans story that caused an uproar online.
After Sunday’s Season 3 premiere, in which Sweeney’s Cassie Howard debuted her new career on OnlyFans, fans of the HBO series took to social media to criticize the “disgusting” costumes the actress had to wear for the show, including dressing up as both a baby and a dog.
“[Cassie]has a dog house and little dog ears and nose, which is humorous in its own right, but what makes this scene funny is the fact that her housekeeper is filming it,” Levinson told The Hollywood Reporter, explaining how the production decided to approach the scene.
“What we always wanted to find is another layer of absurdity that we could tie into it without getting too into her fantasies and fantasies. The gags are about popping out, breaking down walls.”
Levinson and the show’s cinematographer, Marcel Lev, also spoke to the outlet at length about how they shot the controversial scene.
“The obvious choice would have been something modern, very simple and flashy, but in the end we chose this mid-century house, which is a little tacky but still has a ’70s feel to it,” Lev explained. “This is perhaps a strange choice, but at the same time it gives us possibilities.”
He continued, “OnlyFans has its own aesthetic, and the challenge is how to elevate that aesthetic to that of the show, but I’m not going to lie.”
Levinson added that the “uncomfortable and unpleasant” lighting they chose was to show how “depressing” her career on the paid subscription site was.
While Levinson is proud of his creative choices, many viewers were upset and shocked that Sweeney even agreed to take part in it.
“Why did this girl get the role?” one person tweeted. “I mean, you’re too valuable. Why would you be a plaything to people like that? Why would you humiliate yourself so much for (the show)?”
“Disgusting, who can see this?” added another.
The show’s third and final season sees the main cast experiencing their early 20s five years after graduating from high school.
Howard’s character on the show is currently preparing to say “I do” to Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi.
Her OnlyFans career was introduced to viewers in the first trailer for “Euphoria” Season 3, which was released in January.
In the film, Sweeney’s character is dressed as a dog wearing a brown corset (from her own lingerie line, Syrn), complete with a tail and ears.
In the clip, she wags her tail while astride her doghouse, then turns around and smiles at the camera.
New episodes of “Euphoria” stream Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO.
