Barbie Ferreira Announced That She’s Leaving “Euphoria”

It seems like every time we hear about HBO’s acclaimed saga of dongs, drugs, and dark rooms, Euphoria, it’s due to the excess of on-set drama that creator, Sam Levinson, allegedly perpetuates. A few months ago it was rumored that model/actress Barbie Ferreira, who plays Kat Hernandez on the show, wasn’t seeing sparkly lined eye-to-eye with Sam and his ideas for the direction of her character. Despite Kat having a dynamic storyline in season 1, her scenes were largely cut in season 2. And now, Barbie announced that she’s done with Euphoria for good.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kat took to her Instagram Stories to break it to fans that her time on the show is done.
Barbie Ferreira wrote in an Instagram story Wednesday that “after four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character Kat, I’m having to say a very teary eyed goodbye.” The post was accompanied by artwork by Euphoria castmate Hunter Schafer.
“I hope many of you could see yourself in her like I did,” the post continues, “and that she brought you joy to see her journey into the character she is today. I put all my care and love into her and I hope you guys could feel it. Love you Katherine Hernandez.”
Here’s her story:
Euphoria is not Euphoria without Kat #Euphoria #Kat #BarbieFerreira pic.twitter.com/7RNG9O8Bxa
— 시몬 (@SimonBlumee) August 25, 2022
While Barbie took the high road and didn’t really throw Sam under the bus back when we last heard about their conflict, it seems like their beef is the most probable reason for her departure.
Ferreira and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson reportedly clashed during the making of season two, with The Daily Beast reporting in February that the actor walked off set at one point. Some fans also called out the show for reducing Ferreira’s time on screen during the season.
Actors also lodged several complaints with SAG-AFTRA about overly long shoots on the series and a lack of meal and bathroom breaks, according to The Daily Beast report. In a statement at the time, HBO said that “it’s not uncommon for drama series to have complex shoots” and noted that “there were never any formal inquiries raised.”
Kat was popular among fans because lots of people could relate to the duality and compartmentalization of her life–even if most aren’t actually daytime high school outcasts moonlighting as cam girls.
During Euphoria’s first season, Ferreira spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about Kat’s dual life in the series, where she’s ignored or picked on in high school but has a big online following as a fan fiction writer and eventually a cam girl.
“That’s an extension of herself that she doesn’t want to mix with real life; she wants to keep it separate, because she’s scared if she mixes it, it will all go downhill,” she said. “She kind of starts exploring bringing her online persona into her real life, but her new online persona, and she finds power in it, and she’s powerless at school.”
Some people are pretty heated:
Sam count your days cause I’m Coming for your ass #Euphoria #Kat #BarbieFerreira Barbie deserves better and so does Kat she meant so much to so many people pic.twitter.com/N2tnld3fxe
— Joseph (@Joseph01079089) August 25, 2022
WHY EUPHORIA, WHY? The one character I related to is gone. Kat embodied LOVING your body and being a bad ass bitch! We will miss & love you. Thank you Kat aka Barbie Ferreira #Euphoria #BarbieFerreira #HBO
— kailey🥀🖤⚰️ (@JacksonKailey33) August 25, 2022
💔 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
My heart goes out to Barbie Ferreira as she, and her character, were done dirty by Sam Levinson on Euphoria
I’m confident Barbie go on to work on great projects
Can’t wait to see what she does next #EuphoriaHBO #samlevinson #barbieferreira #Euphoria https://t.co/kPnXaagboy
— Bmurfette (@BrookeM33701561) August 24, 2022
No word on where we’ll see Barbie next. While she was reportedly one of many who auditioned for the lead role in the upcoming Madonna biopic, Julia Garner snagged it. But, The Weeknd’s HBO show might eventually be looking for new cast members since it’s been a lazy Susan of his self-important bullshit. Right now Sam is involved with it, but maybe Barbie raided Kat’s costume closet her last time on set and swiped some dominatrix gear she could use to flog his dramatic ass right out the door.
Pic: JOHN NACION/startraksphoto.com