Euphoria creator Sam Levinson has broken his silence on Zendaya’s lead character Rue Bennett’s tragic ending in the hit HBO series’ season 3 finale.

In a recent chat with Popcast, the New York Times’ music podcast, the 41-year-old television producer and writer responded to backlash over the shocking deaths of major characters this season.

It is important to note that Rue died in the finale, while Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi, died in the episode prior.

"The honest ending is that people like Rue don’t make it," Sam said while reflecting on Zendaya’s role.

He explained, "People relapse and they f*** up. They’re not ready to get clean. And they weren’t dying like they are now with the influx of fentanyl into this country."

"I could say with absolute certainty that if I were going through what I went through when I was younger now, then I wouldn’t be here either," the director added.

He also praised the Challengers star’s acting skills, calling her performance in the show "wonderful."

Justifying Rue’s death, Sam noted, "In the end, I wanted to tell an honest story about addiction. I also wanted to tell a story about grief and the emotional turmoil that it can create."

When did Euphoria premiere and conclude?

Euphoria, starring Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, and others, premiered on June 16, 2019. The series concluded on May 31, 2026, wrapping up with its third and final season.