Zendaya’s mom is speaking out (sort of) after the shocking “Euphoria” Season 3 finale left fans devastated. The emotional goodbye to one of the show’s main characters quickly sparked reactions from fans online, many of whom admitted they were still processing their devastating fate.
Following Sunday night’s emotional episode, Claire Stoermer took to Instagram Stories with a cryptic message that hinted she may have mixed feelings about how HBO’s hit drama came to an end.
“Lots of messages in my DM’s from people about last night’s episode,” Stoermer wrote. “I’m gonna keep my thoughts to myself. Definitely made me sad….and other emotions as well. But just gonna leave it right there…”
Her emotional post came just hours after viewers watched Zendaya’s beloved character, Rue Bennett, meet a heartbreaking fate in what has now been confirmed as the series’ final season.
Zendaya’s Rue Bennett Meets A Tragic End
The Season 3 finale delivered one of the show’s most devastating twists yet when Rue died from a fentanyl overdose after relapsing on laced painkillers given to her by Alamo Brown, played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.
The emotional ending marked the close of Zendaya’s years-long run as Rue, a role that earned the actress two Emmy Awards and made television history. Since “Euphoria” premiered in 2019, Zendaya has taken home the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series twice, first in 2020 and again in 2022, becoming the youngest person ever to win the award following her first victory.
Zendaya Shared An Emotional Goodbye Behind The Scenes
Following the finale, HBO aired a behind-the-scenes segment featuring Zendaya reflecting on her time playing Rue and thanking the cast and crew who helped shape the series.
“I just want to say thank you,” Zendaya said. “I’m incredibly grateful for every single one of you. Many of you have been here since the beginning and watched me grow up. It’s been such a pleasure and an honor. Thank you so much.”
Sam Levinson Says Rue’s Ending ‘Felt Like The Honest Ending’
Series creator Sam Levinson has since defended the controversial decision to kill off Rue, confirming Season 3 marks the official end of “Euphoria.”
Levinson also admitted Rue’s ending was deeply personal. “There’s no reason to sugarcoat it,” he said. “I wanted to tell this story for Angus [Cloud] and for people who weren’t granted a second chance.” Angus Cloud, who starred in the first two seasons of the show as Fez, died of an accidental overdose in July 2023 at age 25.
“The honest ending is that people like Rue don’t make it,” Levinson added. “People relapse. They f-ck up. They’re not ready to get clean. And they weren’t dying like they are now, with the influx of fentanyl into this country.”
Angus Cloud Was Honored In The Final Episode
Levinson later described the finale as both heartbreaking and meaningful, explaining that Rue’s ending was also intended as a tribute to Cloud. Speaking during a Popcast interview, he called the finale “a tragic one in the end, but it’s also the truth.”
The episode included never-before-seen footage of Cloud, a moment Levinson said was deeply intentional. “It was a way of honoring Angus and saying a prayer for the future,” he said. “In terms of the story that we set out to tell, which is a story about addiction and its consequences, this feels like the end to me.”
Jacob Elordi Also Said Goodbye To Nate Jacobs In A Wild Finale Twist
While Rue’s devastating ending stunned fans, she wasn’t the only character to meet an unexpected fate in the finale, as Jacob Elordi’s Nate Jacobs also faced a dramatic end after finding himself buried alive in a coffin and coming face-to-face with a rattlesnake.
During a post-show segment that aired on HBO on May 24, Elordi opened up about filming the intense sequence, admitting the experience was far less terrifying than viewers may expect. “I had to go into this coffin. My shoulders were touching the side, and I couldn’t move my arms, and then they would drill the lid on, and it would get dark,” Elordi said. “It was really nice, actually. It was quite peaceful in there.”
Despite Nate’s dark and controversial journey throughout the series, Elordi said he appreciated the way the character’s story ultimately wrapped. Ultimately calling it a “cool way to go,” the actor reflected on Nate’s complicated arc.
“Nate is someone who’s made so many mistakes and made so many dark choices. It’s cool to see it all come to what it’s come to,” Elordi said of the character.
“Euphoria” is now streaming on HBO MAX.