A provocative moment featuring Sydney Sweeney in the newest season of Euphoria shows a sexual scenario that could soon be outlawed in the UK.
Only two episodes of the third season of HBO’s drama have aired so far, but they’ve already sparked intense debate over several scenes.
In the storyline, Sweeney’s character Cassie begins creating content for OnlyFans in what has been suggested could be the show’s final run — a direction some viewers argue pushes the series beyond acceptable boundaries.
One sequence that a viewer labelled “vulgar” shows Sweeney in a baby-themed outfit, sucking a dummy while holding her legs up.
That type of depiction may soon carry legal consequences in the UK if proposed government measures move forward. The material falls under what is commonly described as “age play,” where adults present themselves as younger than they are, particularly in sexualised contexts.
Under an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, the publication and possession of pornography portraying an adult roleplaying as a child would be criminalised.
Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Girls Alex Davies-Jones said:
“I’ve sadly heard far too many devastating stories from victims and I know we need change now. Tackling violence against women and girls within a decade will take every single one of us.
“We have been clear that vile online pornography has real-life consequences for all of us and I’d like to thank every brave campaigner who has worked with us to deliver this vital step. Today we are sending a powerful message: we will stamp out misogynistic and harmful content online and create a safer world.”
The Euphoria scene has faced a strong backlash online, with one viewer writing:
“I was gonna give this season of Euphoria a chance, but adding age play to satisfy the pedophilic fetish of some people seems way too sick and disgusting to me.
“I can’t believe someone wrote this script, that it got accepted, that the actresses ARE OKAY WITH IT, and that HBO thinks it’s a good idea to approve its filming and airing.”
Others pushed back against the criticism, arguing that the show’s intent is satirical or illustrative rather than promotional. One person responded:
“But it’s fiction. It’s a mockery of those who make and consume that kind of stuff. It’s like you complaining that a movie features a corrupt politician or a serial killer.”