Barbie Ferreira is setting the record straight on her “Euphoria” departure, and it has nothing to do with drama. The actress, who played Kat Hernandez for the first two seasons of the hit HBO series, revealed she chose to walk away because she didn’t want to feel sidelined. Barbie Ferreira’s admission comes days after the third season of “Euphoria” premiered on Sunday.
Barbie Ferreira Says She Refused To Be A ‘Background Character’
“Some people are like, ‘I would do that.’ I’m like, ‘Good for you,’” she said during an appearance on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast, insisting her exit “wasn’t dramatic.” “You want to be a background character for nine months? That’s, like, totally fine and cool. But I was like, I want to do other stuff.”
Ferreira explained that her departure didn’t happen overnight, but rather came after ongoing discussions about her character’s direction. “It was kind of the opposite of dramatic,” she said, describing it as a “long process” of “having conversations with people and us trying to figure out how to make Kat, like, a fully fleshed out character, and it just wasn’t going anywhere.”
When it became clear there wasn’t a clear path forward, she made the decision to move on. “I don’t need to be on the biggest TV show on Earth if I’m not, like, acting, you know?” she said. “So I would rather do an indie movie where I’m acting, I’m flexing my muscles, I’m being creatively … asked to do things rather than kind of sitting around to be a background character.”
Ferreira Previously Addressed Exit In Emotional Statement
Back in August 2022, Ferreira confirmed her departure in an emotional message shared to Instagram. “After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character, Kat, I’m having to say a very teary-eyed goodbye,” she wrote at the time. “[I] hope many of you could see yourself in her, like [I] did, and that she brought you joy to see her journey into the character she is today.”
“[I] put all my care and love into her and [I] hope you guys could feel it,” she added.
Since then, she has consistently denied speculation that a behind-the-scenes feud with the show’s creator, Sam Levinson, played a role in her unexpected departure.
Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Euphoria’ Return Sparks Backlash Over ‘Humiliating’ Storyline
Meanwhile, Sydney Sweeney’s return to “Euphoria” is already stirring controversy among fans. Viewers were quick to criticize the direction of her character, Cassie Howard, with many claiming the show was “humiliating” the actress following its long-awaited return after nearly five years.
In the premiere, Cassie is shown preparing to marry Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi. However, her opening scene raised eyebrows, featuring her in a revealing dog costume while filming provocative content for social media. The moment only intensified as Sweeney’s character barked like a dog and drank water on all fours, leaving some viewers uncomfortable with the portrayal.
As the storyline unfolds, Cassie, who is struggling financially, also suggests starting an OnlyFans account, adding another layer to a narrative that some fans feel continues a pattern of degrading arcs for the character.
Sam Levinson Celebrates ‘Euphoria’ Stars’ Success
Series creator Sam Levinson says it’s a thrill to see many cast members thriving. “The thing is when you’re casting, every person that walks in, you’re hoping this is the person, this is going to be the character,” he told The Associated Press at the season premiere. “And sometimes when they do, they walk in, they have the talent, they’ve got the passion, the enthusiasm for it, and they inspire you.
He added, “To see them working with such incredible filmmakers like (Christopher) Nolan and (Guillermo) del Toro … it’s just exciting.”
‘Euphoria’ Became A Launchpad For Hollywood’s Rising Stars
Since premiering in 2019, “Euphoria” has played a major role in shaping the careers of some of Hollywood’s biggest young stars. The gritty teen drama helped launch and solidify names like Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, and Zendaya, while also bringing wider recognition to actors including Hunter Schafer, Alexa Demie, and Maude Apatow.
The series has also featured more established talent, such as Colman Domingo, who has earned two Best Actor Oscar nominations in recent years, and the late Eric Dane. Tragically, another one of the show’s breakout stars, Angus Cloud, passed away in 2023.