Since Euphoria Season 3 premiered on April 12, creator Sam Levinson has faced backlash on social media. The season features bold and controversial scenes that have drawn viewers’ ire.
The second episode, which dropped on Sunday (April 19), continued the controversy, with one scene drawing severe backlash online. Viewers were shocked by the casual use of a racial slur and found it offensive despite the narrative context.
As a result, many fans criticized Levinson on X.
“He feeling like Mr. Tarantino,” one person wrote.
Euphoria Season 3’s latest episode uses an offensive racial slur
Image credits: HBO
The third season added Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje to its main cast. He plays Alamo Brown, an African American gang leader who deals in controlled substances.
Episode 3 offers deeper insight into the character as he becomes embroiled in a conflict with Laurie, who heads a rival gang. He takes Rue as punishment after Laurie sells him a consignment laced with fentanyl.
During their heated conversation, one of Laurie’s henchmen calls Alamo the n-word. The slur is used again later in the episode as an insult.
However, Alamo doesn’t appear offended until Laurie calls him a pig, which deeply hurts him. After fixating on the remark, Alamo retaliates by sending a live hog to Laurie’s home.
Fans slam Sam Levinson’s use of racial slurs in Euphoria
Image credits: Gilbert Flores/Getty Images
After the episode aired, viewers took to social media to voice their displeasure. On X, many compared creator Sam Levinson to Quentin Tarantino, who is known for using the n-word in several of his films.
“He is the Quentin Tarantino of this generation,” one viewer jokingly said.
A second wrote, “He loved it so bad he had to do it twice.”
“His favorite word this season,” a third person added.
Image credits: HBO
Despite the backlash, some users argued that the slurs were the least problematic aspect of Levinson’s writing in Season 3. Others defended him, citing the show’s mature themes.
“Please stop watching mature TV, go back to watching whatever Disney shows you guys are used to,” one user commented in his defense.
Euphoria creator explains racial dynamics in Season 3
Image credits: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
In an interview with Variety, Levinson and actor Akinnuoye-Agbaje discussed the episode’s use of racial slurs and how they shaped Alamo’s storyline.
The showrunner explained why being called a pig was more insulting to Alamo than the n-word, describing it as an entry point into the character’s psychology.
“It was a way of playing with the absurdity of racial dynamics,” Levinson stated.
Image credits: HBO
Akinnuoye-Agbaje said that the idea of his character being more offended by the pig comment than the n-word was interesting and allowed him to dive deeper into Alamo’s trauma and insecurity.
“It’s a wonderful way to unveil the layers of insecurity, paranoia, and trauma in Alamo — the bizarreness of it,” he shared.
Levinson previously faced backlash for an adult-content creation storyline centered on Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie. Despite his best efforts to defend the storyline, some viewers continue to find it offensive and distasteful.
Euphoria is currently streaming on HBO Max.
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