Sydney Sweeney’s “Euphoria” character uses ableist slur when compared to a Democrat

Key Points

• Sydney Sweeney’s Euphoria character, Cassie, used the R-word when compared to a Democrat in the HBO series’ latest episode.

• The character said several inflammatory things on the fictional press tour as she continued her OnlyFans journey.

• The podcast tour also included a stop on Trisha Paytas’ show.

Euphoria is stirring the pot when it comes to Cassie’s evolution from stay-at-home wife to OnlyFans star, in a season 3, episode 5 development that many fans have interpreted as meta commentary with regard to actress Sydney Sweeney.

Sunday’s installment of Sam Levinson’s HBO drama, titled “This Little Piggy,” picks up amid the Cassie’s (Sweeney) rise on the adult content circuit, after her recently reconnected friend and new manager, Maddy (Alexa Demie), pushes her to new heights — 50,000 subscribers on OnlyFans! The uptick comes following a somewhat scandalous on-camera appearance with a popular TikTok star with 30 million followers.

Cassie subsequently shoots to internet fame and embarks on a press tour, which includes a fictionalized version of multi-hyphenate influencer Trisha Paytas’ digital show.

Sydney Sweeney in ‘Euphoria’ season 3, episode 5
Credit: Eddy Chen/HBO

A montage of Cassie’s media appearances sees the blonde bombshell leaning into tradwife tropes in the hopes of courting even more male subscribers. At one point, she tells a pair of hosts that she feels “like American men have been treated like second-class citizens,” while, “In the past, men used to be hunters and gatherers and protectors. Now, they’re being forced to walk around on their tippy toes. It’s not natural!”

She adds in another interview that “men should be free, they should be able to speak their mind, voice their desires,” all while her own husband, Nate (Jacob Elordi), sits at home, waiting for his wife’s newfound income to save him (and his feet, as his toe was cut off by a shady lender on his wedding night) from a deep, self-imposed financial burden.

“If a man today were to say that he wants a girlfriend that could cook or clean, he might as well be screaming the N-word,” Cassie tells a shocked Paytas.

Finally, in a bit that many online have said felt like a nod to Sweeney’s real-life political controversies, Cassie reacts to a podcaster’s observation about her by using a slur.

“You sound like a Democrat,” an off-camera voice says. Cassie dismissively laughs before saying the R-word: “I’m not r——-.”

Later, while reaping the financial benefits of Cassie’s online explosion, Maddy offers a pointed observation.

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“You know what’s funny?” she asks Cassie. “The angrier these idiots get, the more money you make.”

Some corners of conservative social media celebrated the scene, while other fans pointed out that the moment might be a form of meta commentary, as Sweeney herself has weathered politically charged controversies in the past, including a scandal involving a 2025 American Eagle denim ad.

Sydney Sweeney plays Cassie in ‘Euphoria’ season 3
Credit: Eddy Chen/HBO

Sweeney starred in the campaign, which proclaimed that the actress had “great jeans,” with some interpreting the line as a nod to eugenics.

Sweeney eventually responded, telling Entertainment Weekly‘s sister publication, PEOPLE: “I was honestly surprised by the reaction,” she noted. “I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand. I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign. Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true.”

The actress also drew backlash after imagery surfaced in 2022 of her mother’s 60th birthday party, which showed attendees sporting Blue Lives Matter material and MAGA-themed red hats that read “Make America Sixty Again.”

“The people in the pictures weren’t even my family,” Sweeney responded in an interview with Variety. “The people who brought the things that people were upset about were actually my mom’s friends from L.A. who have kids that are walking outside in the Pride parade, and they thought it would be funny to wear because they were coming to Idaho.”

Euphoria season 3 continues Sundays on HBO.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly