Euphoria creator Sam Levinson is defending the controversial OnlyFans storyline from the show’s third and final season.
During season 3 of the HBO drama, Sydney Sweeney‘s character Cassie Howard turns to sex work with Maddy’s (Alexa Demie) assistance as her manager. Several scenes featuring Cassie in season 3 have gone viral, drawing backlash to the already polarizing series.
On a recent episode of Real Time With Bill Maher, Levinson defended his decision to include the storyline (via The Wrap), calling OnlyFans “a massive enterprise” that is “making as much money as Hollywood.”
“It’s not a niche business, it is a massive enterprise. And so if you’re young, you’re going … ‘I don’t want to go work in a nine to five at this place or that thing. Well, maybe I can just start taking photos of myself?’” he said, noting his interest in exploring “the long-term consequences of that” and the impact things like social media validation and OnlyFans have on people.
“What happens when you know, as a young person, you’re on Instagram … and you’re told that you’re the product, you’re the brand, and now you’re 18 years old, and you’re going well, ‘How do I make money?’” Levinson continued. “And I just thought chasing that desire, that kind of fast cash, was an interesting thing to kind of explore.”
The writer went on to say the show takes a “fairly critical look at it,” and how it “hollows out the individual.”
“You know, you’re constantly just depending on the likes and external validation,” he added.
Sydney also addressed Cassie’s character arc and defended the racy scenes she filmed for the final season.
Posted To:Euphoria HBO Sam Levinson Sydney Sweeney Television
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