Euphoria slammed after Cassie uses offensive slur as viewers debate reason behind it
Topics: Euphoria, TV And Film, Sydney Sweeney, Celebrity
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: HBO
Topics: Euphoria, TV And Film, Sydney Sweeney, Celebrity
We've officially reached the halfway point of the latest season of Euphoria with the fifth episode of the third season dropping earlier today (11 May).
It's been a pretty shocking few episodes so far, with many HBO viewers left stunned over the 'disturbing' scenes, 'disgusting' storylines and countless NSFW moments.
One of the latest controversies surrounding the TV show is all to do with Sydney Sweeney’s character, Cassie Howard, who uses the R-word slur - but some people think there’s a 'reason' behind it.
The scene sees Cassie sitting down for a podcast interview while Maddy Perez, played by Alexa Demie, watches on.
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At one point, the host tells Cassie 'Well, you sound like a Democrat' to which she laughs: "I'm not r*tarded."
After catching light of the scene, HBO viewers rushed to social media to share their thoughts.
One X user penned: "I literally just watched this part, I’m actually so shocked they put that in."
"This was crazy," quipped a second as a third chimed in: "I really hate how normalised it’s becoming again for people without any disabilities to say the r-slur, and it has absolutely everything to do with our current political climate."
A fourth responded: "I agree, but I think it being used by a character in a show where it is clear the narrative is disapproving of this behaviour is an exception. Cassie is being a villain here."
"I mean, yeah, that is true," the initial X user continued, "but I also feel like, to a degree, that sometimes certain things portrayed in media oftentimes feel like they can reflect things outside of the media itself and have hidden narratives and ulterior motives depending on how it’s used in said piece of media."
A fifth commented: "It was meant as rage bait, that’s why in the very next scene you hear Maddy say 'the angrier they get the more popular you are' she’s encouraging Cassie to present right wing to rage bait people for clout just like OF girls do irl."
"Cassie isn’t supposed to be aspirational," outlined another Euphoria viewer. "You’re not supposed to think using this word is ok because she says it on this show."
And a final fan echoed: "The point of the scene is to show how problematic she is."
Tyla has reached out to HBO for comment.
The first episode of Euphoria season 3 landed in the UK last month (13 April).
Only the premiere dropped on that date, as the rest roll out weekly.
You can stream every episode on HBO Max in the UK.
It will also air on Sky Atlantic and be available via NOW, as with previous seasons.
As an HBO original, season 3 drops one episode at a time.
There are eight episodes in total, with the final instalment due on 1 June.
If you've been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Scope via their website or on 0808 800 3333. The line is open 9am-6pm Monday to Fridays, and 10am-6pm Saturdays and Sundays.