Barbie Ferreira reveals why she left Euphoria amid season 3 controversy
Topics: Euphoria, Film and TV, HBO
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: Photo by JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images
Topics: Euphoria, Film and TV, HBO
Euphoria fans have been debating the controversial scenes in season 3, but that hasn’t stopped people from noticing Barbie Ferreira’s absence from the show. However, she’s now spoken out about the reason for her departure.
Ferreira’s character, Katherine ‘Kat’ Hernandez, was a staple in the first two seasons of the HBO series, but the actress said goodbye to her after filming finished in 2022.
If you need a refresher on Kat, the cam girl was a good friend of Maddy’s (Alexa Demie), who ultimately is a responsible source of energy – compared to the absolute mayhem of Maddy, Cassie (Sydney Sweeney), Rue (Zendaya), and pretty much everyone else.
However, after a short stint as a dominatrix, she struggles with her identity and relationship with Ethan (Austin Abrams), ultimately deciding sex work isn’t for her anymore.
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With a lot of pressure to have body positivity, plus-sized Kat feels lost in herself and inside of her own figure.
Sadly, her character doesn’t show up in the third of the show, and she’s explained that it was to do with the direction of Kat.
On the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, the 29-year-old actress told host Amanda Hirsch that she ‘didn’t need to be on the biggest TV show on Earth’ if it meant she wasn’t ‘acting’ in it.
She claimed that her character wasn’t going anywhere, which apparently wasn’t allowing her to showcase her abilities on Euphoria.
Ferreira said: “I would rather do an indie movie where I’m acting, I’m flexing my muscles, I’m being creatively asked to do things rather than sitting around to be a background character.”
While there have been rumors online that her character was snuffed after an alleged falling out with producer Sam Levinson, she said that it was on the contrary.
Ferreira claimed her exit ‘wasn’t dramatic’, stating: “In fact, it was kind of the opposite of dramatic, where it was like a long process of being like: ‘I don’t know if this is it, for me.’”
What has been dramatic, however, has been the reaction to Sweeney’s character, Cassie, who was revealed to be an OnlyFans content creator this season.
But that isn’t where the controversy has stemmed from. Instead, it comes after Cassie was seen partaking in ‘puppy play’ and even roleplaying as a baby.
Thankfully, Ferreira settled her side of the rumors so there can be no more misunderstandings on why her character isn't being reprised.
Ferreira announced that she was leaving Euphoria in August 2022.
"After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character kat, I'm having to say a very teary eyed goodbye," she wrote in a post on her Instagram Story. "I hope many of you could see yourself in her like i did and that she brought you joy to see her journey into the character she is today.
"I put all my care and love into her and i hope you guys could feel it. Love you Katherine Hernandez."
UNILAD has reached out to HBO for comment.