Cassie post-fight in Euphoria season two
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Bathwater soap to Zendaya ‘feud’: All the Sydney Sweeney drama around Euphoria season three

Cassie would have a meltdown over this

Daisy Phillipson
3rd May 2026, 14:00
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As Euphoria season three finally gets underway, Cassie’s OnlyFans storyline is already one of its most talked-about moments. But it’s not just the on-screen chaos getting attention – much of it has shifted to Sydney Sweeney herself.

In the three years it’s taken for Euphoria to return to our screens, a lot has changed. Firstly, many of the cast members have transitioned into A-list stars, including Sweeney.

But between filming movies like Madame Web and Christy and reprising her most famous role, the star has been at the centre of multiple viral controversies, from the American Eagle “great jeans” saga to rumours of a feud with Zendaya. 

If you’re struggling to keep up, here’s a breakdown of all the Sydney Sweeney dramas that have been hanging over Euphoria season three.

Her bathwater soap stunt instantly split the internet

Sydney Sweeney in bathwater ad
Credit: Dr. Squatch

In May 2025, Sweeney made headlines by pulling a Belle Delphine as part of a new ad campaign by selling her bathwater (in the form of a limited edition Dr. Squatch soap bar).

The stunt – which was in response to intense fan demand following a previous commercial for the male personal care brand – quickly went viral. While some saw it as a tongue-in-cheek bit of fun, others found it, well, kind of uncomfortable. 

Those who fell into the latter camp questioned what it said about the way Sweeney is marketed, especially given ongoing conversations around the sexualisation of her image. But the backlash to the bathwater soap was nothing compared to the American Eagle ad…

American Eagle ‘great jeans’ ad spiralled into major backlash

Sydney Sweeney was under the spotlight a few months later due to an ad campaign for American Eagle, which referenced the actress as having “great jeans” – a play on the word “genes”. 

Again, the response was divisive, with some critics accusing the ads of promoting white supremacy ideals and eugenics, the discredited belief that the human population can be “improved” through selective breeding. 

Then the conversation got very political, very fast

Cassie as an OnlyFans model in Euphoria season three
Credit: HBO

Amid the American Eagle discussion, records were uncovered showing the Euphoria star had registered as a Republican voter in Florida a few months before Donald Trump won a second US presidency. 

In turn, she received a personal endorsement from Trump, who wrote on his Truth social platform: “Sydney Sweeney, a registered republican, has the ‘hottest’ ad out there.”

But this wasn’t last we heard of it. Last November, GQ took the opportunity to ask Sweeney about the backlash and finally set the record straight. 

The interviewer said: “The criticism of the content was basically that, maybe specifically in this political climate, white people shouldn’t joke about genetic superiority,” before asking if she wanted to speak specifically on that. 

Sweeney replied: “I think that when I have an issue that I wanna speak about, people will hear,” which in itself led to even further backlash. 

Oh, you thought that was the end? Fast forward to April 2026 – after Euphoria season three’s premiere – and American Eagle dropped a brand new ad campaign featuring Sweeney. 

In the ad, she asks, “What brand am I wearing?” After a long pause, she says, “Yeah, that one,” a nod to the original controversy. 

Sweeney’s relationship with Scooter Braun brought old drama back into focus

Image of Scooter Braun
Credit: Bradford Rogne

Alongside everything else, Sydney Sweeney’s relationship with Scooter Braun has also drawn attention, largely due to his controversy with Taylor Swift.

Braun became a hugely divisive figure in 2019 after acquiring the masters to Swift’s early catalogue as part of a deal with Big Machine Label Group. Swift publicly criticised the sale, saying she hadn’t been given the opportunity to buy her own work.

She also accused him of “incessant, manipulative bullying”, with the dispute ultimately leading to her decision to re-record her albums. Because of that history, Braun remains a controversial name online.

So, while Sweeney’s relationship itself isn’t the source of backlash, it’s the context around Braun that has kept the conversation going – particularly among Swifties.

Rumours of a Zendaya feud took off after the season three premiere

Rue watching Lexi's play in Euphoria season two
Credit: HBO

This one’s unconfirmed, but rumors of Zendaya and Sweeney being locked in a feud have been circulating for some time, reaching new heights when they were both on the red carpet for the Euphoria season three premiere in LA. 

Videos soon emerged showing Zendaya hugging her fellow co-stars but not Sweeney. While neither of them have publicly said they have an issue with one another, it hasn’t stopped speculation.

An LA insider told The Sun that their tensions go “way back”, with Sweeney accused of being flirty with Tom Holland when he was on set. 

The source said: “They have not really hung out socially since then. Their paths barely crossed during the making of season three.” But even if this were true, you won’t be hearing it from Zendaya or Sweeney. 

“There is a complete ban on journalists asking about tensions between Zendaya and Sydney,” the insider alleged. “During the press tour, any interactions between the pair are being kept to a minimum to avoid any awkward encounters on camera.”

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Featured image credit: HBO