She’s been dragged through the mud by viewers and critics alike over her X-rated scenes in Euphoria, but it looks like Sydney Sweeney is having the last laugh.
Despite the scathing reviews and pearl-clutching reactions to the latest season of the controversial series, Euphoria is a bona fide ratings sensation.
According to Variety, the second episode of season three hit 8.5million viewers across HBO and HBO Max in its first three days in the US alone.
These are similar figures to the season premiere, proving that Euphoria has serious staying power.
Ratings have significantly eclipsed season two so far, with Euphoria even dethroning the blockbuster medical drama The Pitt at the top of HBO Max’s streaming chart.
Sweeney has also outshone her co-stars on the series, most notably her rumored rival Zendaya.
Sydney Sweeney is having the last laugh as the latest season of Euphoria continues to dominate HBO’s ratings despite backlash from critics and viewers
‘Nobody can stop talking about her in the HBO show,’ wrote The Hollywood Reporter, ‘even though she co-stars with Zendaya, arguably the hottest actress on the planet right now.’
Outside of Euphoria, Sweeney also recently scored the No. 1 movie on HBO Max with her boxing biopic Christy.
Although the movie was a box office flop in theatres, the movie has become a surprise streaming hit.
It’s not her only film to dominate HBO Max either.
Thanks to the success of Euphoria, Sweeney’s critically-acclaimed drama Reality, based on the FBI interrogation transcript of American intelligence leaker Reality Winner, is currently top ten on HBO Max.
Outside of the HBO world, Sweeney’s raunchy thriller The Housemaid is currently the No. 1 movie on Amazon in the US, Australia, the UK, and many more countries.
While Sweeney is undoubtedly a streaming sensation, her many raunchy scenes on the latest season of Euphoria have shocked viewers.
In the series, her character Cassie is now working as an OnlyFans model.
Outside of Euphoria, Sweeney scored the No. 1 movie on HBO Max with her boxing biopic Christy
Sweeney’s critically-acclaimed drama Reality is also top ten on HBO Max
In one shocking scene from the show, Cassie dresses up as an infant, complete with a pacifier, while shooting explicit content for her OnlyFans page.
Conservative pundit Megyn Kelly lashed out at Sweeney over the scenes in a furious rant on her SiriusXM radio show last week.
‘The truth is – this is sexualizing infancy. That’s what this is,’ Kelly raged while showing an image of Sweeney ‘spread eagle’ on a couch in a baby costume.
She went on to slam fans who defended its content as a ‘pretty common kink,’ even branding Euphoria’s creator, Sam Levinson, as ‘sick.’
As for Sweeney, Kelly said she was shocked the actress agreed to the sexual content, referencing another scene from the first episode where she was dressed as a dog and barked for her romantic partner, Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi.
Kelly has frequently expressed mixed feelings about Sweeney on her show. She defended the actress after Sweeney found herself in the middle of a firestorm over her American Eagle ad, where she boasted about her ‘good jeans.’
Sweeney’s raunchy scenes in the latest season of Euphoria have made her the most talked-about star on the new season, even eclipsing rival Zendaya
Some viewers were outraged by Sweeney’s sexually-charged scenes in the series, including one scene that saw her dressed up as a toddler
Kelly applauded Sweeney for handling the controversy ‘like a boss’ and blasted the ad’s critics.
However, Kelly refused to defend Sweeney in October when the actress sported a sheer silver gown on the red carpet, once again sparking conversation.
‘I object to this. I disapprove of the dress she wore because it’s completely see-through. You can see her entire nipples,’ Kelly said at the time.
The commentator did give Sweeney some grace, noting that the actress may have been coerced into wearing the revealing gown.
Last year, Sweeney’s name was on Kelly’s tongue once again when the actress was seen at Jeff Bezos’ wedding to Lauren Sanchez.
‘How does she wind up there?’ Kelly questioned, before launching into a brutal jab: ‘Sydney Sweeney’s the new toast of the town out there because she’s got these enormous breasts that everybody’s obsessed with.’