Zendaya's new HBO series 'Euphoria' slammed for graphic sex, promoting rape, and drug abuse
Upcoming HBO teen drama series 'Euphoria' is not for the faint-hearted.
The series, which will premiere on June 16, has sparked outrage among TV viewers with its heavy dose of full-frontal nudity, graphic sex, and a shocking rape scene.
Starring Zendaya, the series follows a group of high school students as they navigate drugs, sex, identity, trauma, social media, love, and friendship.
The pilot episode includes a sex scene, as well as the statutory rape of a 17-year-old trans character. The scene reportedly features an erect prosthetic penis which will be worn by 46-year-old actor Eric Dane, who plays the assailant.
The show also has the most number of naked bodies in a single scene in a completely non-sexual shot of 30 nude men in a locker room. Jacob Elordi's character Nate is in the room and tries to be as discreet as possible while changing in front of his male peers, who, on the other hand, seem to not know what "discreet" means.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, creator Sam Levinson intended the scene to be an homage to the locker room scene in 'Carrie', in which dozens of naked teens sham Carrie (Sissy Spacek) after she gets her period for the first time. Levinson also said that "there are going to be parents who are going to be totally f**king freaked out" by the show.
HBO is known for explicit content in its shows but it looks like 'Euphoria' is ready to take it up a notch.
The show's first episode features Sydney Sweeney in an explicit sex scene with Algee Smith, who is not exposed.
Parents Television Council president Tim Winter has already slammed the series, telling The Hollywood Reporter that it "appears to be overtly, intentionally marketing extremely graphic adult content — sex, violence, profanity and drug use — to teens and preteens".
Many viewers on social media share the sentiment, but others are also eagerly looking forward to the show.
Zendaya's character Rue is also seen suffering a drug overdose in the first episode.
The show reportedly was so intense that it led one cast member to quit in the middle of taping the first episode.
It's no surprise that former HBO chairman Richard Plepler told people that the series made '13 Reasons Why' look like an "after-school special."