'Euphoria's' latest season has sparked controversy, with critics like Megyn Kelly calling out its provocative imagery and themes.
Image: X/@sweeneydailyx
The newest season of "Euphoria" is already under fire, with fans and critics split over its tone and creative direction.
While audiences tuned in expecting the usual drama and glossy dysfunction, attention has quickly shifted towards discomfort around some of its more provocative creative choices.
One of the loudest critics is Megyn Kelly, who used her podcast "The Megyn Kelly Show" to directly call out creator Sam Levinson and actress Sydney Sweeney over what she described as deeply inappropriate imagery in upcoming content.
“She’s dressed as a baby. She’s in a baby’s outfit, she’s sucking on a binkie, and her legs are completely spread. You can have a laugh, of course, because I shocked you, but the truth is, this is sexualising infancy. That’s what this is,” Kelly said.
She further expanded on her criticism, arguing that the creative direction reflects a wider issue in Hollywood.
“I think this is another example, guys, of Hollywood not understanding at all where the line is and how most normal people are going to recoil, even Sydney Sweeney fans, in response to what’s essentially the sexualisation of a child, of a baby.”
The controversy follows the season three premiere, which already generated online debate around Sweeney’s character, Cassie Howard.
In the episode, Cassie is shown exploring the idea of creating adult content on OnlyFans, a storyline that immediately drew attention on social media.
Additional scenes were added to the reaction, including a moment where Sweeney appears in a dog costume being led on a leash, which viewers interpreted as deliberately provocative.
Kelly also referenced this, saying, “I can’t believe she agreed to this,” while criticising the creative direction behind it.
She directed further criticism at Levinson, calling him a “sick jerk” for what she described as the repeated sexualisation of a teen-focused series.
Levinson, however, previously defended similar creative decisions in comments explaining that certain surreal or exaggerated moments are intended to add layers of absurdity and break from illusion rather than exist purely within character fantasy.
The situation escalated after a teaser for an upcoming episode showed Sweeney in another baby-themed costume, intensifying scrutiny of the show’s direction and its use of provocative imagery.
Kelly also claimed there had been ongoing discomfort around nudity in the series, suggesting Sweeney had previously requested fewer nude scenes during production.
This aligns with comments the actress made in a 2022 interview, where she confirmed she had asked for adjustments regarding nudity in earlier seasons.