Sydney Sweeney finally highlights the culprit behind its highly speculated dynamic with Zendaya.
The ‘Euphoria’ star clarified what really happened between her and Zendaya on the set of their HBO series and how it played out in real life, truly amplified by fans.
Sydney Sweeney and her co-star were introduced to the world in the hit HBO series, written by Sam Levinson. The series first premiered in 2019 and launched Sweeney’s career as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after stars.
The release of the third season of “Euphoria” was accompanied by several speculations about an ongoing feud between Sweeney and Zendaya. Theories have it that the stars didn’t get along due to Sweeney’s alleged political leanings and an alleged secret affection for Zendaya’s fiancé Tom Holland.
Viewers had noticed that Sweeney and Zendaya shared little to no screen time from behind-the-scenes photos and clips from the shoot. However, Sweeney pushed back against this narrative, suggesting that social media and all its users have a way of exaggerating normal production interactions into realities.
Sweeney noted that the “Euphoria” cast practically grew up together on stage and that it’s been an out-of-body experience seeing several false theories spread about their relationship.
“It’s honestly crazy how social media and the press spin things,” she said. “I was in prime position at HBO. So by the time they say, ‘Hey, it’s the first day of filming,’ I’m legally not allowed to do anything else. So my schedule doesn’t affect the show. And so it was funny to see everyone telling stories on it. We were all in prime position, so it wasn’t like any of our schedules were delaying it.”
She made the comment in a recent interview with Vanity Fair, but fans noticed that Sweeney didn’t directly address the rumors regarding Zendaya specifically. That being said, fans have seen her fans post behind-the-scenes photos from the show, in which the actress was missing. Instead, actors such as Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie and the late Eric Dane have graced the gallery.
Rumors have also been swirling for years, with unverified reports claiming Sweeney had previously expressed interest in Holland after digging through his internet posts.
Marvel Star’s Absence From ‘Euphoria’ Photoshoot Gets New Explanation
Other reports noted that Zendaya did not participate with Sweeney in promotional photoshoots related to Season 3, and that the two actresses appeared to stay apart during public photoshoots.
Speculation continued to intensify in March when Sweeney was noticeably absent from a Euphoria cast photo shoot.
As The Blast shared, later reports clarified that Sweeney’s absence was due to filming and not a personal conflict. Once again, questions arose after the season 3 premiere when viewers shared videos online and thought the actresses seemed distant from each other.
However, not everyone involved with the HBO series approves of the story. Rumors of tensions behind the scenes were dismissed by actress Jessica Blair Herman, who said the atmosphere was very different.
During her television appearance, Herman explained that it was an ideal match for the actresses because they had established a professional relationship with each other.
When asked about the lack of behind-the-scenes footage of the two together, Herman explained that their characters rarely shared scenes. She added that filming often took place on different schedules, which meant there were fewer opportunities for interaction than fans might expect.
Sydney Sweeney defended her character’s choices and insists her persona is a separate entity
The Blast said the media personality drew a clear line between herself and her viral “Euphoria” character, Cassie Howard.
After witnessing serious backlash over Cassie’s storyline in the show’s third season, particularly over the OnlyFans gig, Sweeney insisted that portraying a character doesn’t mean approving every decision they make.
The actress added that series creator Levinson walked her through Cassie’s arc before filming and left space for conversations about the direction of the storyline.
Sweeney explained that while she doesn’t personally identify with Cassie’s choices or make the same decisions in real life, her responsibility as an actress is to fully engage in the character’s journey.
For her, the goal was not to judge Cassie but to portray her honestly, which also means fully accepting the character’s extreme emotions and vulnerability while bringing Levinson’s creative vision to the screen.
The actress was reportedly very interested in fully portraying Cassie Howard
In the spirit of true professionalism, Sweeney gave a deeper insight into Cassie’s journey and story, establishing that she never viewed her choices as random.
The actress noted that Cassie’s actions, however perceived, were rooted in patterns fueled by emotional inadequacies and a constant search for validation.
She added that Cassie only felt seen and worthy when people loved her, and her decision to enter the adult industry was an extension of that mindset.
For Sweeney, it wasn’t just about Cassie paying attention, but also about being seen as important, understood, and a piece of a larger puzzle than her daily life.
Meanwhile, Levinson revealed his initial thoughts for making the storyline more ambiguous, and he considered reducing the nudity in Cassie’s arc. However, Sweeney rejected this idea because it would be misleading to the character’s world to avoid engaging him.
Levinson said the discussion influenced his method of shooting and the importance of remaining honest with the character’s journey. He went on to praise her dedication on set, saying she was bold in her choices and always ready to play the role.
Sydney Sweeney consolidates her Hollywood takeover with a new production company
The actress added another feather to her cap and dipped her toe into the tricky waters of production with the launch of her production company, Honey Trap.
As noted by The Blast, Sweeney said the company’s creative vision is the ability to tell bold, emotionally charged stories in film and television, using contrast and complexity.
She co-founded it with longtime collaborator Kaylee McGregor, and the company has begun moving forward on some projects, including an upcoming remake of “Barbella” in collaboration with Sony.
Honey Trap also landed its first major feature film project with an adaptation of filmmaker and author Lindsey Anderson Beer’s debut novel, “Hollow.”
Sweeney would star in and produce the film, while Beer would direct and adapt the screenplay. Backed by LuckyChap Entertainment and Beer’s Lab Brew, the project marks a major milestone for Honey Trap, as well as its first partnership with Sony Pictures.