'Euphoria' Creator Sam Levinson Defends Sydney Sweeney's OnlyFans Storyline After Backlash
Sam Levinson thinks Euphoria fans are barking up the wrong tree.
After facing backlash over Sydney Sweeney’s OnlyFans storyline in Euphoria’s season three premiere, which debuted on April 12, Levinson hit back at the ongoing criticism.
In fact, the show creator said it was an intentional choice to have Cassie doing a sexy dog photoshoot inside the outdated home she lives in with fiancé Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi) as they prepare for their expensive wedding.
“[Cassie] has got her dog house and her little dog ears and the nose, and that has its own humor,” Levinson explained to The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published on April 12, “but what makes the scene is the fact that her housekeeper is the one filming it.”
“What we wanted to always find is the other layer of absurdity that we’re able to tie into it so that we’re not too inside of her fantasy or illusion,” the 41-year-old added. “The gag is to jump out, to break the wall.”
But it wasn’t just the storyline that Levinson felt would accomplish this. He and longtime director of photography Marcell Rév also zeroed in on the lighting of the scene, which they felt paired well with the gaudy home decor.
“An obvious choice would’ve been something modern and very plain and fancy, but we ended up choosing this mid-century home, which is a little tacky, but also stuck in the ‘70s,” Rév explained. “It’s probably a strange choice, but also it gives us possibilities.”
“OnlyFans has its own aesthetic and how you elevate that aesthetic to the show’s aesthetic is a challenge,” he admitted, “I’m not going to lie.”
Euphoria/Instagram
As for the lighting, Levinson noted, “Some of these scenes we only lit with these ring lights that she would use. When you’re inside, it’s a beautiful, glowing front light, but then you jump out of it and it’s just a pool of light and everything surrounding it is dark. It’s just gnarly and jarring.”
“We wanted to capture what she’s trying to show the audience and be inside of it,” he continued, “but then also pull back wider and see how depressing it is.”
Brianna Bryson/WireImage
Aside from Cassie and Nate, the season three premiere also shed light on what the rest of the Euphoria gang was up to in the years after high school.
Rue (Zendaya) is working as a drug mule to pay off her previous debts to dealer Laurie (Martha Kelly) while Lexi (Maude Apatow) and Maddy (Alexa Demie) are both pursuing Hollywood careers in publicity and television.
The show also gave touching tributes to late costars Eric Dane and Angus Cloud at the end of the episode, though their characters are both alive in the show. Cloud’s Fezco was revealed to be in jail, serving a 30-year-sentence after a SWAT team raided his home and killed his brother, while Dane’s character Cal Jacobs is set to appear later this season.
Patrick Wymore/HBO
Given the changes from the show’s time jump, Levinson emphasized how important it was to make the show feel fresh while also staying authentic to the character’s stories.
“We have a motto of: Evolve or die,” he told THR. “We wanted to make sure we were changing things up.”
“We’re seeing them out in the world, in the wider world, and allowing the actors to communicate emotionally through the performance,” Levinson added, “as opposed to in the past, when we did it moreso through camera. We wanted to see them fending for themselves.”
Euphoria isn’t the only show making its debut this year. Keep reading for more 2026 TV premieres…
Amazon MGM Studios
From (MGM+) - Apr. 19
From unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town that traps all those who enter. As the unwilling residents fight to keep a sense of normalcy and search for a way out, they must also survive the threats of the surrounding forest – including the terrifying creatures that come out when the sun goes down.
In season four, the closer the residents of town get to the answers they seek, the more terrifying their search becomes. Who is the Man in Yellow, and what does he want? Will Jade and Tabitha’s revelation be the key to finally going home? How much longer can Boyd hold the town together, even as his body and mind are falling apart? And what role will the town’s most recent arrival play in the events to come? Season Four will open doors that some in town will end up wishing had remained closed.
Lifetime/A+E Networks
Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out (Lifetime) - Apr. 20
This season, Dr. Lee and her team tackle never-before-seen cases that push the limits of dermatology, delivering life-changing transformations and emotional journeys that go far beyond the surface. As she molds the next generation of poppers, Dr. Lee continues her mission to restore confidence and improve lives—one pop at a time. But this season, Dr. Lee encounters an unexpected challenge that could change everything.
Disney/Hulu
4x20: Quick Hits (Hulu) - Apr. 20
4X20: Quick Hits is a new anthology series highlighting cannabis and the people who love it. Made up of four, twenty-minute films, each by a dope director in celebration of what is arguably the world’s most beloved plant.
Investigation Discovery
Hollywood Demons (Investigation Discovery) - Apr. 20
Over the course of five new episodes, season two will continue to offer rare, first-hand accounts revealing how the pursuit of fame can reshape identities, strain relationships, and leave lasting emotional fallout in its wake. In addition to unprecedented access to key figures across the pop culture landscape who weigh in with their personal stories, Hollywood Demons will continue to offer expert analysis and insider perspective from Dr. Drew Pinsky, as well as Emmy-nominated journalist Simone Boyce, who help contextualize the psychological and cultural forces at play. Episodes this season will explore iconic touchstones like The Jerry Springer Show, Saved by the Bell, 16 and Pregnant, among others.
KEVIN KWAN/NETFLIX
Funny AF With Kevin Hart (Netflix) - Apr. 20
Netflix and global superstar Kevin Hart are on a mission to crown the next big name in stand-up with a new comedy competition series. Guided by Kevin Hart and a crew of comedy titans, this unfiltered, uncensored and unapologetic competition will pull back the curtain on the gritty, hilarious and often unpredictable path of a stand-up career.
FOX
Running Wild With Bear Grylls (Fox) - Apr. 21
Running Wild With Bear Grylls follows legendary adventurer Bear Grylls as he takes some of the most famous people on the planet into the wild for a 48-hour journey of a lifetime. With thrilling action and revealing conversations, Bear takes his guests on unforgettable adventures in breath-taking wilderness and reveals a side of some of your favorite people like you've never seen before. This season, Bear Grylls leads cast members on a globe-spanning adventure through some of the planet’s most unforgiving landscapes — from Norway’s glacial wilderness to the legendary mountains of Eryri in Wales.
Michael Becker/FOX
Farmer Wants a Wife (Fox) - Apr. 21
Season four will see farmers Sean, Braden and Brett search for love.
Netflix
This Is a Gardening Show (Netflix) - Apr. 22
This Is a Gardening Show is a refreshing and whimsical take on gardening, hosted by Zach Galifianakis. Rather than positioning himself as an expert, Galifianakis approaches the subject with curiosity and self-effacing humor, admitting that his goal is to learn alongside the audience. The series blends lighthearted comedy with a sincere appreciation for people and the planet. Ultimately, This Is a Gardening Show is about the joy of connecting with the earth and people.
Netflix
Lainey Wilson: Keepin’ Country Cool (Netflix) - Apr. 22
The documentary film follows Lainey Wilson as she redefines what it means to be a modern country star, proving that staying true to yourself can lead to major success. The film captures a pivotal moment in her career, exploring the country icon’s personal journey and chronicling her struggles and triumphs as she captivates fans on stage across the country.
Netflix
Hulk Hogan: Real American (Netflix) - Apr. 22
Before he was Hulk Hogan, he was Terry Bollea. Uncover the man behind the legend in this unfiltered documentary featuring his very last interview.
Apple TV
Criminal Record (Apple TV) - Apr. 22
Criminal Record is a powerful, character-driven drama set in the heart of contemporary London, exploring the impossibility of policing when the truth is up for grabs. In season two, when a young man is stabbed to death at a political rally, rival police officers June Lenker and Daniel Hegarty are forced into an uneasy alliance. But what starts as a hunt for a murderer escalates into an undercover operationto foil a far-right bomb plot in the heart of London.
Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix
Running Point (Netflix) - Apr. 23
Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson) is no longer the surprise choice to lead the Los Angeles Waves, she’s the one everyone is watching. With the franchise finally rebounding after last year’s scandal, Isla is determined to prove she’s not just keeping the seat warm for her brother Cam (Justin Theroux). What she doesn’t know is that Cam is quietly maneuvering behind the scenes to reclaim his post, turning every misstep into ammunition. As she tries to balance the pressure of running a franchise with devoting time to her personal life, every decision on and off the court counts. To survive the family power plays and the scrutiny of the board, she’ll have to rip up last season’s game plan and come up with a whole new playbook if she wants to close out the season on top. Season two of Running Point raises the stakes, deepens the family drama, and finds even more comedy in what it takes to run a modern sports empire.
BritBox
After the Flood (BritBox) - Apr. 23
Returning for a compelling second season, After the Flood continues its tense exploration of a community shaped by tragedy, where new investigations unravel hidden truths and long-buried secrets come to light.
Anne Binckebanck/HBO
Half Man (HBO) - April 23
Niall and Ruben are brothers. Not related in blood but the closest you can get. One, fierce and loyal. The other, meek and mild-mannered. Inseparable youth. Brought into each other’s lives through death and circumstance, all they have is each other… But when Ruben turns up at Niall’s wedding three decades later, everything seems different. He is on edge. Shifty. Not acting like himself. And soon, an explosion of violence takes place which catapults us back through their lives, from the eighties to the present day. Capturing 30 years in the lives of these broken men, Half Man is a six-part limited series exploring brotherhood, violence, and the intense fragility of male relationships. After all, when things fall apart… It is sometimes the closest relationships which break the hardest.
Bravo
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 15 Reunion (Bravo) - Apr. 23
Host Andy Cohen joins Erika Jayne, Dorit Kemsley, Kyle Richards, Bozoma Saint John, Sutton Stracke, and new housewives Amanda Frances and Rachel Zoe as they reflect on an emotional season 15 marked by shocking revelations, shifting alliances, and friendships tested like never before. Friends Kathy Hilton and Jennifer Tilly also join.
Disney/Ser Baffo
Nikki Glaser: Good Girl (Hulu) - Apr. 24
The comedian gets a little naughty in her latest TV special.
Apple TV
My Brother the Minotaur (Apple TV) - Apr. 24
A thrilling mix of folklore, mystery, and adventure about a young minotaur – half boy, half bull – found and raised in the human world. With the help of his fiercely loyal human brother, he recruits a bold group of friends to uncover the mystery of his minotaur past and fulfill his destiny, all while battling dark forces determined to see him fail.
Amazon/Prime Video
The House of the Spirits (Prime Video) - Apr. 29
The House of the Spirits is a magnificent family saga that tells the epic tale of a proud and passionate family, secret loves, and bloody revolution. The Trueba family's passions, struggles, and secrets span a century of violent social change, culminating in a crisis that hurls the proud, tyrannical patriarch and his beloved granddaughter towards opposite sides of the fence.
Apple TV
Widow's Bay (Apple TV) - Apr. 29
Widow’s Bay is a quaint island town 40 miles off the coast of New England. But something lurks beneath the surface. Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) is desperate to revive his struggling community. There’s no Wi-Fi, spotty cellular reception and he must contend with superstitious locals who believe their island is cursed. He wants these people to respect him. They don’t. They think he is soft and cowardly. And he is. But Loftis is determined to build a better future for his teenage son and turn the island into a tourist destination. Miraculously, he succeeds: tourists are finally coming. Unfortunately, the locals were right. After decades of calm, the old stories that seemed too ludicrous to be true, start happening again.
Juan Rosas/Netflix
Man on Fire (Netflix) - Apr. 30
Based on A.J. Quinnell's book series, Man on Fire tells the story of John Creasy. Once a high functioning and skilled Special Forces Mercenary, known for surviving even the most desolate of situations, Creasy is now plagued with intense PTSD. Determined to overcome his personal demons, he sets out on a path to redemption. But, before he can adjust to this new life, he finds himself back in the fire, fighting harder than ever.
Netflix
Lord of the Flies (Netflix) - May 4
Innocence descends into savagery when a group of English schoolboys becomes desert island castaways in the first television adaptation of William Golding’s landmark dystopian classic.
BritBox/James Pardon
The Other Bennet Sister (BritBox) - May 6
Based on Janice Hadlow’s acclaimed novel, the new drama brings Mary Bennet - the oft-overlooked middle sister in Pride and Prejudice - into the spotlight.
AMC Networks/Shudder
The Terror: Devil in Silver (AMC+ and Shudder) - May 7
Dan Stevens (Abigail, Downton Abbey) stars as Pepper – a working-class moving man who, through a combination of bad luck and a bad temper, finds himself wrongfully committed to New Hyde Psychiatric Hospital – an institution filled with those society would rather forget. There, he must contend with patients working against him, doctors harboring grim secrets, and perhaps even the Devil himself. As Pepper navigates a hellscape where nothing is as it seems, he finds that the only path to freedom is to face the entity which thrives on the suffering within New Hyde’s walls – but doing so may prove that the worst demons of all live inside him.
MTV/Paramount Networks
Jersey Shore Family Vacation (MTV) - May 7
Since 2009, Jersey Shore has cemented itself as one of television's most iconic reality franchises, following the beloved cast throughout their personal lives and defining a new era of reality TV. The final season is packed with fist-pump-worthy milestones and unforgettable moments, from pregnancies and baby showers to bachelorette parties, gender reveals, ab reveals, births, birthdays, weddings, and more.
Peacock
M.I.A. (Peacock) - May 7
Restless in the Florida Keys, Etta Tiger Jonze dreams of a life in Miami’s glittering, sub-tropical kingdom. When her family’s drug-running business shatters in tragedy, however, Etta embarks on a dangerous journey through Miami’s neon-lit underbelly that will define who she is and what she’s ultimately capable of.
STARZ
Amadeus (Starz) - May 8
When twenty-five-year-old Amadeus arrives in bustling 18th Century Vienna, no longer a child prodigy and craving creative freedom, his world collides with two pivotal figures: his fiercely loyal future wife, Constanze Weber, and devoutly religious court composer, Antonio Salieri. As Amadeus’ brilliance continues to flourish in spite of his personal demons, a questionable reputation and scepticism from the conservative court, Salieri becomes increasingly tormented by this apparent divine gift. Amadeus is a threat to all that he holds dear in life: his talent, his reputation, even his faith in God. Salieri vows to bring him down. What begins as professional rivalry turns into a deeply personal obsession spanning 30 years, culminating in a murder confession and a desperate attempt to entwine himself with Mozart’s legacy forever.
TLC/Warner Bros. Discovery
90 Day Fiancé (TLC) - May 10
This season brings together couples whose journeys are as unpredictable as they are compelling: a high-powered bridal executive unexpectedly falling for a younger Dominican hotel concierge, a loveable but hardcore partygoer preparing for the arrival of his fiancée from the Philippines, and a bride-to-be managing severe OCD while struggling with compulsive boundary-crossing behaviors. Their stories deliver a mix of heart, conflict, and cross-cultural complexity that defines the 90 Day Fiancé experience and has made it one of television’s most addictive and enduring unscripted series.
Netflix
Pop Culture Jeopardy! (Netflix) - May 11
Pop Culture Jeopardy! is a twist on the classic quiz show’s “answer-and-question” format that combines the academic rigor of Jeopardy! with the exciting and ever-changing world of pop culture. Contestants compete on teams to test their knowledge on a variety of categories as they compete in a tournament-style event for the grand prize and ultimate bragging rights.
National Geographic/Disney
Tucci in Italy (National Geographic) - May 12
In season two, Stanley Tucci visits new regions, including Le Marche, a lesser-known destination he’s never featured before. Located in central Italy along the Adriatic coast, the region's rich culinary delights have largely escaped the attention of international tourists. In Campania and its famed capital, Naples, he celebrates a once-forgotten vine grape, and in Veneto, he deliciously wades into the passionate culinary debate over the origins of tiramisu. Stanley also explores two very different Islands: Sardinia, where he looks into the relationship between food and longevity, and Sicily, where multicultural history has left a delicious mark on its food.
A&E Global Media
Squatters (A&E) - May 12
A&E’s new docuseries follows Flash Shelton, and his team as they tackle high-stakes, fast-moving, and often volatile situations to help homeowners reclaim their property. In the tradition of the network’s multiple Emmy-winning series, Intervention, this new series lifts the veil on a critical social issue facing America today. Squatters sheds light on the complex legal challenges surrounding property rights and showcases Shelton’s unconventional strategies to resolve these conflicts.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
此内容由惯性聚合(RSS阅读器)自动聚合整理，仅供阅读参考。 原文来自 — 版权归原作者所有。