Eddie Chen/HBO
“Euphoria” actor Barbie Ferreira opened “Armchair Expert” podcast About leaving the Emmy-winning HBO series ahead of Season 3 Ferreira announced last August that she was moving on from “Euphoria” and would no longer play Kate Hernandez. Her departure followed reports that she clashed with “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson during Season 2 over her character’s direction. Fans noticed that Kate’s storyline was sidelined in Season 2, and one rumor claimed that she even left during her fight with Levinson.
“So, for me, when people ask me about Season 2, they usually come to me and I’m kind of a victim of Season 2, and I’m like, ‘No, it’s okay, swear. It’s great,'” Ferreira said on the podcast. I was kind of absorbed in the drama, I never asked to be, I never spoke. If it doesn’t go away, I’m not going to say it because I’m adding fuel to it. It took on a life of its own. Don’t believe everything you read.
“I didn’t actually walk off the set,” Ferreira added of the rumours. “I sprained my ankle once and had to go for an X-ray. Maybe that’s what they mean?”
Ferreira discussed leaving the show, confirming that the departure was a “mutual decision” because her storyline had run out.
“I don’t think there’s a place for it [Kat] to go,” Ferreira said. “I think there are places she could have gone. I don’t think it fits the show. I don’t know if that’s going to do her justice, I think both parties know that. I really wanted to be a fat best friend. I don’t want to play it and I don’t think they want to either.
Ferreira also noted that it took nine months to shoot the “Euphoria” season, and that she was unable to work on anything else during that time. From a career standpoint, it didn’t make sense for her to give up nearly a year of filming on a show where her role was increasingly limited.
“I feel like Season 2 and parts of it, I feel like it’s kind of a struggle for both parties,” Ferreira added. “Sam, I…it was a struggle to find her continuity. So it was really painful to actually see that and have the fans upset. I felt like maybe I overstayed my welcome a little bit? So, for me, I was like, ‘Okay, I don’t have to worry about this. It was really nice to be like, ‘Let’s not worry about it, either of us,’ because it’s exhausting.
Ferreira concluded, “Sam writes for things he’s related to. I don’t think he’s related to Kate. I like Kate, so I have to go my own way. At first, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m a failure. I’m a loser.’ It’s actually a good thing.”
“Euphoria” Season 3 will return to HBO later this year in 2024.
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