Ever since Euphoria season three episode six landed on HBO Max, my timeline has been packed with tweets about Jules slapping Rue, and the discourse is getting really weird. Need I remind you that in the long-awaited third chapter, we’ve witnessed Sydney Sweeney cosplaying as a baby for OnlyFans, Nate’s appendages being chopped off, a champagne bottle used for sexual assault, and an odd fixation with Faye’s bowel movements. And yet, somehow, the moment that’s sparked the most outrage this week is Jule’s slapping Rue during an emotionally charged argument. The scene unfolds as Rue seeks meaning in her life following her near-death experience. After hooking up in the previous episode, she spends time at Jules’ flat and floats the idea of having kids. jules slapping rue across the face and a painting slow falls on her 😭 pic.twitter.com/S92NPBRUNS — susie ꕤ (@i_am_susie) May 18, 2026 Jules rolls her eyes, asking how long she’s been sober “this time”. Here’s the thing: Jules is fully justified in her response. She knows Rue, and she knows that the idea of having kids is just another fantasy – anyone who’s lived with an addict is well aware of the emotional exhaustion that comes with it. When Rue starts projecting, Jules for the most part keeps her anger contained, instead giving her a reality check. Rue responds by calling Jules her sugar daddy’s “little toy” who just stays there and paints “before I come back to f**k you.” Jules snaps and slaps Rue so hard that she falls on the floor and her painting falls on top of her. Is it uncalled for? Yes, but since when did Euphoria present us with morally sound characters? Hell, the entire show is hinged on messy, destructive people making terrible decisions. And that’s the uncomfortable thing about Rue and Jules’ relationship in general: It’s never been healthy. Her response is from years of pent up heartache and frustration. That’s not to absolve her from responsibility. If you’ve been to Al Anon or any 12 step meeting, you’ll be well aware that Jules shouldn’t even be entertaining Rue. It’s called “Letting go with love”. Credit: HBO And I think this scene in particular showcases why it’s important – the addict will manipulate and cause resentments to build due to their illness, and until they decide to get well, it’s best to not get in the ring with them. But instead of hearing these nuanced takes about Jules’ actions, I’m seeing countless posts ranging from accusing Jules of being a domestic abuser to straight up transphobia. “How is this acceptable? Why are we showing our children this kind of violence against women,” wrote one, before misgendering Hunter Schafer. Another made comments about her surgery. To be clear, not everyone criticising Jules is being transphobic – a lot of viewers simply think the slap crossed a line. “I would’ve whooped Jules’ ass,” wrote one on X. “How tf you bold enough to slap the taste out of MY mouth but not the old b*stard who threw draws in your face?!? Let alone b*tch you cheated on me and got my sh*t flushed.” Another argued that viewers’ reaction to the slap “is showing me a lot of people don’t understand domestic violence, and that’s really scary.” Credit: HBO It’s hard to ignore how quick and loud the backlash has been compared to the way Euphoria fans normally engage with violence and toxicity. Where was this chat when Maddy slapped Cassie during Lexi’s school play? Or, more recently, when Alamo nearly knocked Rue’s entire face off with a polo stick? I’m not saying we need to condone violence in any form, and that certainly applies to Jules slapping Rue. But it’s telling to see so many pearl clutchers come out of the woodwork for this when other more toxic acts are celebrated. In many ways, the scale of the outrage – and the way parts of it have spiralled into outright transphobia – feels way uglier than the scene itself. For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page. Featured image credit: HBO/Instagram/Nika King Post navigation Next story
