Euphoria‘s Barbie Ferreira Sets the Record Straight on Her Exit From HBO Series: ‘I Actually Did Not Walk Off Set’
Seven months after announcing that she would not return to HBO’s Euphoria, actress Barbie Ferreira publicly addressed her rumor-laden exit from the show.
“I actually did not walk off set,” Ferreira said in the April 3 edition of the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd podcast. She seemed to refer to a Daily Beast report from February 2022 in which “production sources” alleged that the actress had done so several times, in addition to one time she had to be helped from set after sustaining an injury while shooting a scene. “I did sprain my ankle once and had to go get an x-ray. Maybe that’s what they mean?” she said on the podcast. Regarding the scene in question, which took place in and around a hot tub, HBO in March 2022 denied that the production was unsafe, saying in a statement it “was in full compliance with all safety guidelines and guild protocols” and “there were never any formal inquiries raised.”
The same Daily Beast article alleged heightened tension between series creator Sam Levinson and Ferreira, whose character, Kat, didn’t do much in Season 2. On the podcast, she said the decision to leave was “mutual” and based on Kat’s dwindling role in the greater story.
Of the potential storylines for her character, Ferreira said: “I don’t know if it was going to do her justice, and I think both parties knew that. I really wanted to be able to not be the fat best friend. I don’t want to play that, and I think they didn’t want that, either.”
When Ferreira first announced her departure from the Emmy-winning series, she wrote on 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. 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. Love you Katherine Hernandez.”
TVLine has reached out to HBO for comment.
Will you miss Kat in Euphoria Season 3? Sound off in the comments!
I actually totally adored Kat’s character! She was the only one doing something to ensure her future by doing the online work she was doing under cover! I thought she was genius and the fact that she was the fat friend at that!
The writers had nothing for her to do in Season 2. No wonder she left.
Yeah, not buying it. But nice of her to not trash the show or its creators. Jenna Ortega should take note.
Her character was very much liked in season 1, they cut her role which took away from the show, probably because they didn’t get along with the actress. And on another note, she doesn’t want to play the fat best friend? you knew what you signed up for? why do actors sign up accept a role and then decide “its demeaning” to place this character like really? it must be so annoying that new actors or any actors to dictate who their Character is and “she wouldn’t do this” umm did you write it? so on that end I would side with production/Directors etc.