21st Century Black Woman

TRIGGER WARNING: Mention of sexual abuse

It’s every creative’s dream to successfully tailor their work for a certain demographic and loyal audience. Sam Levinson of Euphoria fame seems to have cracked the code! The show aired at the tail end of the 2010’s, during the height of Gen Z’s popularity within the cultural zeitgeist. Widely known as a generation of socially progressive, irony stricken, clinically depressed, and fashion forward individuals, many could see themselves in some of the characters in the show. Of course this is not true for all members of one generation, with much of the content being exaggerated and dramatized. However, Euphoria was on the path to becoming a time capsule of this modern period. The most notable example is its depiction of a young, on-again, off-again lesbian relationship between Rue (played by Zendaya) and Jules (played by Hunter Schaffer), with the latter character as an openly trans person (same as the actress). This representation highlighted the social progressiveness of older Gen Z. Themes pertaining to domestic violence, slut shaming, fat shaming, drug abuse, grooming, internalized homophobia/transphobia, and other struggles amongst modern day young people are all integral to the show. Unsurprisingly, these specific storylines attract a particular demographic with definitive values. It is rather ironic that this creative feat of curating an audience has bit Sam Levinson in the ass. 

The cultural understanding of decency constantly pivots due to many different ideas being shared simultaneously on social media. Conversations surrounding the show have changed drastically compared to when it first aired in 2019. During the 7 year gap between season 1 and season 3, his audience overlaps with those who have been inundated with multiple sexual harassment/abuse documentaries about powerful men in the industry. Many of the characters from season 1 and 2 were teenagers, but the show nevertheless was drenched in sexual content. Moreover, Sydney Sweeney’s interview discussing Levinson’s constant impulse to write scenes with her character nude or topless has unsurprisingly raised some eyebrows. During the airing of the first season, many viewers were underage themselves. Now, many audience members are beginning to look at the content through a different lens after reaching adulthood. The audience Levinson has curated is now on high alert regarding shocking content depicting underage teens in obscene or sexual scenarios. More recently, many watchers during the first episode of the third season took to social media, alleging the usage of possible fetish content portrayed by some of the female characters. With Euphoria now shrouded under a cloud of controversy, the same individuals who once took interest in the show are currently some of the biggest detractors.

Fans who gravitated towards the show due to the LGBT representation, the biracial actress, Zendaya, casted as the lead, and the exploration of slut shaming, could likely be turned off from the inclusion of Sydney Sweeney. Months ago, she was in the center of some controversy after starring in an American Eagles jeans ad. Throughout the commercial, the narrator repeatedly declared that the blonde, blue eyed actress has “good genes.” Audiences with more liberal and progressive views, such as Euphoria’s, have been known to invest in the beliefs of the people and programs they support. Adding onto the controversy, the character Kat (played Barbie Ferreira), screentime was noticeably reduced in season 2. It is rumored that she departed from season 3 due to the mismanagement of the character. Ferreira stated that the character didn’t have much else to go. While that’s a noble reason to leave a show, I can’t help but wonder why the character was written off due to her pushback. While Sydney Sweeney’s character, Cassie, is heavily sexualized, Kat might arguably be the most sexually explicit character. Due to the misguided understanding of the sex and body positivity movement, she becomes an underaged Cam girl to reclaim her sexuality. I’m not personally against adults engaging in sex work, but this particular depiction of an underage girl in this line of work gives me pause. Ferreira deserved to expand her character’s depth beyond being the fat friend that works as a Cam girl. Labrinth, the musical composer of Euphoria, recently denounced the show and industry on Instagram, stating he would not be a part of season 3. His ear for music significantly added to the feel and mood of the show. His absence will be undoubtedly noticed because of how integral the soundtrack is to each episode, enhancing already iconic scenes to their full potential. It is not lost on me that a black man, who greatly aided in the success of the show, experienced such an unharmonious exit. His departure from Euphoria may be the straw that broke the camel’s back. 

 I believe that messy, deeply imperfect portrayals of life deserve to be shared on screen. The lives of teens are no different in my opinion. I’m also aware that disagreements and departures are a part of the entertainment industry and creative process. However, Levinson’s consistent teetering between artistic expression and (alleged) exploitation may be the catalyst to his fall from grace. In an era where basic human decency and empathy is being called into question, he may have been better off catering to an audience who couldn’t care less. He perhaps should’ve pandered to those who would never question how many times Sydney Sweeney flashed the screen, the fetishization of a trans teenager, or an underage Cam girl. Levinson seemed to have bit off more than he can chew.