Euphoria is the show which feels like it was made specifically for the internet generation. It speaks to our never-ending fascination with the drama of high school.
The series can stir up all sorts of emotions, from outrage to pure admiration, sometimes all at once. With its visually captivating scenes and intricate plotlines, one can find themselves binge-watching without even realizing it.
HBO labeled Euphoria as the channel’s second-most watched show since 2004, trailing only behind Game of Thrones. In 2022, as per HBO (via Deadline), its Season 2 pulled in about 16.3 million viewers per episode.
That’s the highest viewership for any HBO series in the last 18 years, except for Game of Thrones. During its final season in 2019, GOT averaged a staggering 46 million viewers per episode.
The series wrapped up in 2022 with a mix of sweet and bitter feelings, but here’s the good news—it’s been confirmed for a third season, slated for a 2025 release.
Despite the show’s huge success, Zendaya’s co-star has been going through financial struggles. Even since the series went on hiatus, the co-star has been unable to find a steady job.
Zendaya’s Euphoria Co-star Faces Financial Strain After Show’s Hiatus
Nika King (who plays the mother to Zendaya’s character Rue Bennet in Euphoria) recently shared that she’s been unable to cover her rent for the past six months since the show took a break.
King, known for her portrayal of Leslie Bennett in the series, recently shared a clip of her stand-up comedy set where she talked about the show. “Please stop asking me about s3,” read the caption of TikTok video.
In the clip, the 44-year-old said, “Season 3 is coming out… I don’t f*cking know. Don’t ask me. I don’t know.” The actress then joked while the Dune: Part Two star was in Paris Fashion Week, “Come home. I need you. Mama needs you.”
King added, “Y’all laughing, and I’m serious.” The Miami native also admitted she was surprised that her career didn’t skyrocket after being part of a hit show, saying:
“I thought my career was on the rise after Euphoria. I thought I was good. It don’t work that way. I called Taraji and she was like… get used to it.’”
It’s surprising because Euphoria is such an acclaimed show, but it shows the tough reality for actors in the entertainment industry—even after being part of a hit project.
Sydney Sweeney Previously Voiced Salary Concerns After Starring in Euphoria
Not only Nika King, but in 2022 Sydney Sweeney too hinted that her salary from starring in Euphoria wasn’t enough. The Anyone But You star stated having to pay her team, leaving her with little money to spare. This made it hard for her to take breaks. Speaking to Hollywood Reporter, the actress said:
“If I wanted to take a six-month break, I don’t have income to cover that. I don’t have someone supporting me. They don’t pay actors like they used to, and with streamers, you no longer get residuals. The established stars still get paid, but I have to give five percent to my lawyer, 10 percent to my agents, three percent or something like that to my business manager. I have to pay my publicist every month and that’s more than my mortgage.
The 26-year-old blonde, who portrayed Julia Carpenter in Madame Web (which received negative reviews upon its release last month), is also slated to star in Euphoria Season 3, along with two other projects: Immaculate and the thriller Echo Valley.
Watch both seasons of Euphoria on HBO.
