Sam Levinson, a Hollywood visionary director and writer known for his boundary-pushing storytelling, is currently facing a flurry of criticism. His work has been accused of reducing female characters to "one-dimensional sex objects," steeped in the "male gaze," with an emphasis on explicit content, sexualization, and the degradation of female characters. From "Euphoria" to "The Idol," the 41-year-old director's signature style focuses on provocative themes and unflinching depictions of intimacy. However, both series have drawn intense backlash, with critics branding them as "sexual torture porn."
With the return of "Euphoria" for its third season, Levinson is once again under scrutiny, thanks to Sydney Sweeney's "degrading" OnlyFans storyline. Described as a "humiliation ritual," the show has been known for its graphic portrayals of teen drug use, sex, and violence since its inception in 2019. However, viewers claim that Levinson's "disturbing" and "misogynistic" storylines for the new season have "lost the plot."
In the latest season, fans were appalled by how far Sydney's character, Cassie Howard, was willing to go. Her most X-rated scenes yet included being dressed as a baby in one episode and a lingerie-clad dog in another. Her character also went fully nude while posing for a series of provocative photos for her OnlyFans account, followed by a baseball-themed shoot where she wore just a nude thong.
Later, Cassie portrayed an "adult baby" with her legs up in the air for the camera, while sucking on a dummy. In the most recent episode, titled "Kitty Likes to Dance," Cassie was seen sharing a steamy lesbian kiss after re-opening her OnlyFans account and snorting drugs off another woman's genital area.
"Somebody save Sydney Sweeney," one fan wrote on Twitter, as many others called the scenes a "humiliation ritual." "Please god, I can't keep seeing Cassie degrade herself in the most embarrassing ways imaginable," another user added.
