The text arrived from a fellow creator: “Sydney Sweeney’s doing baby kink.” It was about the new trailer forEuphoria, and my initial reaction wasn’t excitement, but a dull sense of boredom. The show seemed determined to shock, and the attempt felt… obvious.
The trailer presented these once-vulnerable teenagers as adults navigating harsh realities – strip clubs, drug dealing, and content creation. It felt jarring, not because sex work shouldn’t be normalized, but because something about the presentation felt deeply unsettling.
Cassie, played by Sweeney, has been consistently hyper-sexualized throughout the series. Seeing her in a deliberately provocative pose, a pacifier in her mouth, while being photographed felt particularly uncomfortable. It wasn’t the sexuality itself, but the *way* it was presented.
I’m familiar with the ABDL community – Adult Baby/Diaper Lover – a consensual roleplay between adults with no involvement of children. However, the trailer offered no context, no nuance, leaving it open to dangerous misinterpretations.
The timing felt particularly fraught, given the heightened public awareness surrounding abuse and exploitation. The shadow of recent events made the imagery feel reckless, even irresponsible. The two-minute trailer offered no indication of any redeeming qualities.
I genuinely connected with earlier seasons ofEuphoria, particularly the raw portrayal of addiction through Rue’s storyline. It felt authentic, likely informed by the creator’s own experiences. But even then, a troubling pattern emerged: the relentless sexualization of the female characters.
This pattern is made even more concerning by allegations of exploitation leveled against the show’s creator, Sam Levinson, by actresses on another HBO series. It raises questions about the intent behind the constant focus on sexuality.
It doesn’t feel like a crucial plot point; it feels like an obsession. And when sensitive subjects are treated as sensationalism, the potential for harm and the spread of misinformation becomes significant.Euphoriafeels less like storytelling and more like a calculated pursuit of controversy.
My own understanding of alternative interests came through direct interaction with my audience. A message arrived on my OnlyFans a few years ago that stopped me short: “What if I wear a nappy while I watch your videos?”
I’d received unusual messages before, but never this. Because he was a repeat customer, I decided to ask him directly, seeking to understand his request. “Can you tell me why? Is this your kink?”
He responded with a detailed explanation, describing the feeling of ultimate submission and the joy he found in embracing a childlike persona. I listened, and ultimately, I was comfortable with his request. It was consensual, respectful, and didn’t raise any red flags.
But I recognize that most people haven’t had these conversations. The show’s depiction risks vulnerability for both the ABDL community and, tragically, for survivors of abuse. Showrunners have a responsibility to provide context and nuance, a responsibility they’ve clearly failed to meet.
In the current climate, a show has a duty to portray these communities with sensitivity and understanding.Euphoriaprioritizes shock value above all else. This season, I won’t be watching.
