Euphoria fans devastated as Barbie Ferreira quits show: ‘She deserves better’
Euphoria star Barbie Ferreira has given a “very teary goodbye” to her character in the hit HBO show, announcing her departure ahead of season three.
The actor has played chaotic teen Kat Hernandez in Euphoria since it started airing in 2019.
Taking to her Instagram, Ferreira shared fan art made by co-star Hunter Schafer alongside a poignant message.
“After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character, Kat, I’m having to say a very teary goodbye,” she wrote.
“I hope many of you could see yourself in her like I did and that she brought you joy to see her journey into the character she is today. I put all my care and love into her and I hope you guys could feel it. Love you Katherine Hernandez.”
It comes after much speculation and reports that Barbie Ferreira and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson had fallen out over the direction of her character.
In February, it was reported that Ferreira had walked off the set of the show after a disagreement. Her character, Kat, faded into the backfround in season two, having become a fan favourite in the show’s first run.
Ferreira addressed these rumours to Insider saying: “What’s interesting about this season is there are so many more eyes on it that even the news cycle has been so interesting to see.
“I’ve seen so many different things and a lot of it is untrue and some of it’s kind of like mundane little things.
“Sometimes things take on a life of their own, and they’re not rooted in the truth, but it’s OK, because I know it’s just out of passion and out of curiosity and all that good stuff. And I signed up for it. So, I’ll take it. I’ll take the good and the bad.”
Fans had noticed Ferreira’s character got considerably less screen time in the second season, with her plot ending on a bizarre break up with boyfriend Ethan, and they began saying she “deserved better”.
“Barbie Ferreira was one of the highlights of season one, but the way Kat was treated in the second season was just odd,” one person wrote on Twitter.
Another added: “The only plus size rep of the show whose storyline was greatly built up just to terribly crumble apart and pretty much become an extra due to s**ty writing in the second season, is now gone. Kat Hernandez deserved better. Barbie Ferreira deserves better.”
im sorry but kat is one of the best characters of euphoria…barbie ferreira deserved better pic.twitter.com/LKbiPXxZ8l
— julian🫶🏽 (@jul13an) August 24, 2022
Sam Levinson slept on Barbie Ferreira’s talent and he’ll 100% regret it when she becomes a huge star pic.twitter.com/eUXOSqvtcV
— Joshua Chenault (@joshuachenault1) August 24, 2022
Others reminisced on their favourite scenes from Kat, including her iconic monologue about body acceptance in the first season, calling it a “cultural reset”.
thank u barbie ferreira for giving us one of the most important scenes as kat, this will always be television history pic.twitter.com/fTBZPPm1PL
— ً (@uwstonem) August 25, 2022
Barbie Ferreira only had an ounce of screen time and still delivered one of the best scenes of Euphoria this season pic.twitter.com/Nz79SlD7Qe
— JYN (@waylojan) August 24, 2022
so sad to hear that Barbie Ferreira is leaving the euphoria cast. I hope you know that thunder kit kat is one of the most important character I've seen. thanks to her, I started to love and accept myself. thank u 💖
— vaness(i)a (@vanessadesofiia) August 24, 2022
Euphoria will return for season three.
