Stating that the actresses' blockbuster HBO series Euphoria's second season misrepresented and erroneously showed teen drug use.
Rather than advancing each parent's desire to protect their children from the potentially horrific consequences of drug abuse and other high-risk behavior, HBO's television drama Euphoria chooses to misguidedly glorify and erroneously portray high school student drug use, addiction, anonymous sex, violence, and other destructive behaviors as common and widespread in today's world, according to a D.A.R.E. representative.
Zendaya, who plays drug-addicted girl Rue in the series, spoke about the physical and mental scars left by the fifth episode, which began with Rue burning the house she shares with her mother and younger sister in a withdrawal-fueled rage.
According to Zendaya, who acquired a lot of bruises and still has scars on her legs from the thrashing episode in which she kicks down doors and smashes up her house hunting for a cache of narcotics her mother flushed down the toilet, it was a really difficult day.
Rue's friends and family stage an intervention, sending the youngster — who is cruelly detoxing from opiates throughout the episode — on a frantic journey through the streets of her hometown in search of new narcotics while evading following cops. Our production is not intended to be a morality play or a guide to how people should spend their lives. Zendaya told the magazine in response to the D.A.R.E. statement. If anything, The idea behind Euphoria, or whatever we've been attempting to achieve with it, is to make folks feel a little less alone in their suffering. And they may feel like they're not alone in what they're going through or coping with.
Zendaya revealed that she shot the horrific episode soon after returning from the 2021 Venice Film Festival, describing it as "very dramatic and difficult to handle" and "clearly something that would be extremely emotionally and physically exhausting." She expressed her concern for Rue and expressed her displeasure that the girl is in so much pain, both emotionally and physically, as a result of withdrawal.
While majority of the series' scenes focus on The actress noted that Rue's difficult-to-watch spiral into chaos and desperation is not meant to promote drug use, but rather is the depiction of an addict in the midst of a degenerative disease... [that's] taking control of her life. She also feels out of control in many ways. She is unable to manage her emotions or her physical body. Season two, she said, was supposed to focus on her character's visceral pain and how it affects those who love her.
Zendaya, who also serves as an executive producer on the show, told EW that knowing how much Rue means to those who have struggled with addiction and grief gives her optimism for the character's future. She stated, We can't leave her here. It's critical that she sees the light at the end of the tunnel, since I believe she possesses a great deal of beauty. It's up to her whether she recognizes it or not... Many people have reached out to me, citing numerous parallels from all ages and walks of life. There are so many parallels with Rue and her tale, and Rue means a lot to them in ways that I can understand, but also in ways that I could never comprehend, and that means the most to all of us.
