Sydney Sweeney is finally setting the record straight. The 28-year-old actress has addressed years of speculation surrounding behind-the-scenes tension on the set of Euphoria, pushing back against rumors that cast drama contributed to the lengthy delay between seasons.
In a candid interview with Vanity Fair published on June 9, Sweeney described the online narratives as disconnected from reality. “We all grew up together on this show,” she said. “It’s honestly crazy to watch how much social media and the press spin things”.
One specific rumor Sweeney targeted involved claims that the young cast’s packed schedules caused production delays. The four-year gap between seasons two and three fueled endless online theories, with fans speculating that rising stars like Zendaya and Sweeney herself couldn’t find time to film together.
Sweeney explained that the opposite was true. She revealed that every principal cast member was contractually “in first position” with HBO, meaning they were legally obligated to prioritize Euphoria over all other projects once filming dates were set.
“I was in first position to HBO,” she stated. “So the moment they say, ‘Hey, this is the first day of filming,’ I’m legally not allowed to do anything else. So my schedule doesn’t affect the show” .
She added that the same rule applied across the ensemble. “All of us were in first position, so it wasn’t like any of our schedules were holding it up”.
Beyond scheduling, Sweeney also indirectly responded to speculation of a personal rift with costar Zendaya. Rumors had circulated after Zendaya reportedly left a premiere early and Sweeney shared a season wrap post that didn’t feature her costar’s image.
The two characters, Rue and Cassie, also shared minimal screen time in the final season, which some fans interpreted as evidence of off-screen tension. Sweeney dismissed such interpretations, emphasizing that the cast maintained close relationships throughout filming.
“Every single time we were in the trailer, we were like, ‘Wait, what are you doing today?'” she explained, noting that actors often only received their own scripts and had to piece together the wider narrative during production.
While fans spun theories about cast drama, the actual delays stemmed from industry-wide disruptions. Production on season three was initially expected to begin in 2024 but was pushed back due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, as well as ongoing script development.
The death of beloved cast member Angus Cloud in 2023 also deeply affected the production schedule . Creator Sam Levinson previously described the fact that they completed the season at all as “nothing short of a miracle”.
Euphoria season three premiered on April 12 and wrapped on May 31, ultimately serving as the show’s final season . The conclusion saw five major characters die, including Zendaya’s Rue Bennett in the series finale.
Despite the controversies surrounding the show’s explicit content and the four-year wait, Sweeney remains proud of the work. “I am so happy with my life and my coworkers and the characters that I get to play,” she said. “That’s what’s important”.
