Sydney Sweeney has once again ignited speculation about a bitter feud with her Euphoria co-star Zendaya after conspicuously omitting her from a Season 3 photo roundup. Following the season finale on Sunday, Sweeney took to social media to share a series of behind-the-scenes snapshots featuring several of her fellow main cast members, as reported by Page Six.
Missing from the Montage
In the carousel of images, Sweeney posed alongside Jacob Elordi (Nate Jacobs), Alexa Demie (Maddy Perez), Maude Apatow (Lexi Howard), and even included a tribute to the late Eric Dane (Cal Jacobs). However, Zendaya, who portrays Rue Bennett, was notably absent. Sweeney captioned the post, “it’s called … acting,” seemingly addressing critics of her provocative role as Cassie Howard.
While many fans praised Sweeney’s performance in the comments, others quickly pointed out the omission. “There’s no photo in this slideshow with Zendaya … I’m confused,” one user wrote. Another theorized, “Zendaya doesn’t like [Sweeney] because of her values.” Conversely, some argued that the two actresses “barely had any scenes together,” which could explain the lack of shared behind-the-scenes content.
Roots of the Rift
Reports of a feud between Sweeney and Zendaya first surfaced in November 2025, with the Daily Mail claiming that their differing political views were at the heart of the tension. Sweeney is a registered Republican and sparked controversy with an American Eagle denim campaign that some critics labeled as Nazi propaganda with racist undertones. According to the outlet, Zendaya refused to participate in joint press for Euphoria Season 3, and the two allegedly avoided standing near each other at events.
The rumors intensified when Sweeney was absent from a cast photo shoot in March. However, Page Six was told that the shoot occurred during production when Sweeney was filming a scene, explaining her absence. Yet, the following month, the actresses appeared to keep their distance at the season premiere—a move that reportedly surprised few among the show’s crew.
Insider Insights
An insider alleged to the Sun that “Euphoria bosses are all too aware the pair do not get along. There were tensions way back … Their paths barely crossed during the making of Season 3. During the press tour, any interactions between the pair are being kept to a minimum to avoid any awkward encounters on camera. There is a complete ban on journalists asking about tensions between Zendaya and Sydney.”
The source also claimed that the dispute may have stemmed from Sweeney having “the hots” for Zendaya’s fiancé, Tom Holland, and being “flirty with him” when he visited the set. “That did not go down well with Zendaya. They have not really hung out socially since then,” the insider added. Furthermore, they noted, “It’s a bit of a headache because Zendaya doesn’t want to be associated with a Trump supporter.”
This story originally appeared on Page Six and is republished here with permission.
