Sydney Sweeney has addressed the backlash surrounding her storyline in the final season of Euphoria, after sharing a string of provocative behind-the-scenes photos.
The 28-year-old first hit major mainstream attention in 2019 when she joined the HBO drama as Cassie Howard. The show aired its finale last night (May 31).
Since her breakout role, Sweeney has gone on to appear in projects including The White Lotus and The Handmaid’s Tale, among others.
This season of Euphoria, however, has sparked debate online about Cassie’s arc, with some viewers calling several scenes “degrading” and arguing the show had “gone too far.”
Week after week, audiences reacted strongly to Cassie’s OnlyFans storyline, which saw the character turning to the platform to help fund an extravagant wedding to Nate (played by Jacob Elordi).
On Sunday, Sweeney marked the end of the series with a finale-themed Instagram post featuring revealing behind-the-scenes snapshots that leaned into Cassie’s headline-grabbing moments.
“It’s called…acting.”
The post prompted plenty of support from fans, with one commenter praising her work and writing:
“Acted so good people are HATING.”
Another person described her as:
‘The best actor of this season’
Among the images were moments from the much-discussed dog sequence, as well as a more daring shot with the snake that later plays a pivotal role in Nate’s fate.
And while the season has drawn criticism in places, she appears to have at least one unwavering supporter in her corner — boyfriend Scooter Braun.
Speaking on Suzy Weiss’ Second Thought podcast, Braun offered uncommon insight into their relationship and said he’s been impressed watching her on screen.
‘I’ve met an extraordinary woman, kind and generous and smart, and real and down to earth,’ he said.
When asked if he’s been keeping up with the HBO series, he added:
“I am catching it. I’m biased, I like it. I think there’s been an incredible performance by a certain actress.”
The pair have been linked since 2025, and Sweeney appeared to confirm things more publicly last month when she posted affectionate photos from California’s Stagecoach Festival.