Zendaya Gives Euphoria Viewers a Heads Up on HBO Show's 'Graphic,' 'Triggering' Scenes

HBO’s Euphoria, which premieres tonight, has already gotten a fair amount of buzz from the pearl clutchers over at the Parents Television Council, thanks in part to all the penises that pop up in the show’s second episode. Parents’ concerns aside, Euphoria does dig into some dark stuff, and star Zendaya gave a heads up on Sunday that the show’s graphic content might be difficult for some viewers to watch.

She posted the following message on Instagram:

Just a reminder before tonight’s premiere, that Euphora is for mature audiences. It’s a raw and honest portrayal of addiction, anxiety and the difficulties of navigating life today. There are scenes that are graphic, hard to watch and can be triggering. Please only watch if you feel you can handle it. Do what’s best for you. I will still love you and feel your support.

Love, Daya.

Euphoria, which is a remake of an Israeli show of the same name and whose ensemble cast also includes Storm Reid, Maude Apatow, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, and Algee Smith, is about “a group of high school students as they navigate love and friendships in a world of drugs, sex, trauma, and social media,” according to HBO’s description. Deadline reports that show creator and EP Sam Levinson addressed the show’s depiction of drug use, and the showrunners’ efforts not to glamorize drugs, at the ATX Television Festival last week:

“We have to be authentic about it,” he said. “If we’re pulling our punches and we’re not showing the relief that drugs can bring it starts to lose its impact. Drugs are not the solution but they can feel like it at times, and that’s what makes them so destructive.”