Euphoria the creator Sam Levinson he issued a message to those who were upset by the series finale by defending that tragic death.
In a segment after the Sunday, May 31, episode of the hit HBO series, Levinson explained why Rue (Zendaya) was killed by extremism, saying, “The honest conclusion is that people like Rue don’t make it.”
Levinson reflected on his history with addiction — before speaking Angus CloudJuly 2025 death following accidental overdose.
“People are going back and dying. They’re not ready to get clean. And they weren’t dying now that they’re full of fentanyl in this country,” he explained. “I can say with confidence that if I had gone through what I went through when I was young now, I would not be here.”
He continued: “There is no reason to smear it, I wanted to tell the story of Angus and people who were not given a second chance.”
Levinson called the ending “a sincere ending.”
“Zendaya’s performance has been so beautiful and unique throughout these seasons. We fell in love with this character – this girl who was flawed and f**ked but with a good heart,” he said. “It’s a blessing to work with talented people and people you love.”
Levinson noted that the show was always building up to Rue’s death, and added, “Ultimately, I wanted to tell an honest story about addiction.”
During Sunday’s episode, Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) killed Rue by licking the fentanyl drug he gave her. The moment occurred during the finale, which pushed Ali’s (Colman Domingo) story during his revenge at the Alamo.
Euphoria premiered in 2019 and originally followed troubled high school student Rue as she struggled to stay sober after rehab. The hit HBO series was quickly renewed for a second season after its premiere, but it took almost three years for the episodes to air.
During the seasons, the actors lost several times after that Eric Danewho played Cal, died in February at the age of 53 after a battle with ALS. Cloud, on the other hand, died at the age of 25 and Levinson dedicated the season to the actor and his character, Fez.
“Some people ask why it took so long between seasons 2 and 3. There were the obvious elements — the strikes, trying to make the show work with our most sought-after characters, but the real time was trying to find a way to honor those we’ve lost,” Levinson said at the April premiere of season 3.
She added: “When Angus died, it was hard. I loved him deeply, and I fought hard to keep him clean. The year he died, 2023, he was one of the 73,000 people in America who died of a fentanyl overdose. I learned a lot that year, but what I realized more than anything else is that death is what gives life meaning. You can’t force the presence of truth. That life itself is amazing, it’s a gift, it’s a great blessing.”
Levinson said he wanted to honor Cloud, concluding, “I thought if I couldn’t keep him alive maybe in the middle of this show I could control him and keep him alive there. I think it was all about honoring him and I can’t wait for you to see the last few episodes. I think he’s going to be talking about his stories. I think he’s going to love it.”
Euphoria currently airing on HBO Max.
If you or someone you know has a substance abuse problem, contact the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
