Euphoria Controversy: Unveiling the Plagiarism Allegations Against Creator Sam Levinson & HBO's Aesthetic

Summary

Euphoria creator Sam Levinson is accused of plagiarizing the show's aesthetic after director Petra F. Collins claimed he approached her to direct based on her photos.

Collins' assertion is that she contributed to the casting process and aided in constructing the show's universe. However, HBO ultimately dismissed her involvement on the basis of her age, only to subsequently adopt her rendition of the show. Retrieved remarks from a reliable individual near to Levinson offer a counter-response to Collins' allegations.

Euphoria creator Sam Levinson is facing allegations of plagiarizing the show's aesthetic. Euphoria, a highly discussed hit on HBO, stands out for its talented cast led by Zendaya and its vibrant presentation that adds a touch of hyper-reality to the story. Although Euphoria season 3 does not have a confirmed release date yet, it is expected to premiere sometime in 2025.

Recently, director Petra F. Collins has gained attention with her viral comments accusing Euphoria of appropriating her aesthetic. Collins, who is also a model and artist, has collaborated with various celebrities including Cardi B, Olivia Rodrigo, Selena Gomez, and Euphoria actor Alexa Demie. In a previous interview with Hungarian publication Punkt, Collins revealed that Levinson initially approached her to direct the HBO teen drama but eventually took on the majority of the directing himself. Furthermore, Collins claimed that Levinson had stated Euphoria drew inspiration from her photographs. You can read her comment below.

Collins: I want to reveal something about that series that has never been shared before. I've never spoken about this publicly because it sounds so unbelievable, but the reason I relocated to Los Angeles was because Sam Levinson, the director of the show, contacted my agency and said, "I've written a show inspired by your photos. Would you be interested in directing it?" So, I made the decision to move to LA and worked with HBO for approximately five months. I was excited about directing the show and put so much effort into creating an entire world for it, including casting. However, at the last minute, HBO informed me that they couldn't hire me because they felt I was too young. It was disappointing, but I understood. They would go on to create a different version of the show, disregarding my input. I was naive to think they would use my vision. Despite the setback, I learned a great deal from the experience, and it was an interesting journey. One year later, as I was leaving my apartment, I saw a billboard that was an exact replica of my work. It was overwhelming, and I couldn't help but cry. Throughout my career, similar situations have occurred, but never on such a large scale. It deeply affected me because this aesthetic is something I had developed throughout my life, and now I had to let go of it because it had been appropriated by the mainstream. The most difficult part was when people unknowingly commented that the show resembled my photos.

There has been no response from HBO or Levinson regarding these events. However, The Daily Beast did receive a response from a source close to Levinson, and their comment is provided below:

This Resurfaced Interview Adds To A Troubling Narrative Around Levinson

Euphoria is widely recognized as a remake of an Israeli show. Being a devoted fan, he had hoped for the chance to collaborate with her in that capacity. However, it should be noted that there was no guarantee of such an opportunity. Ultimately, the decision rests with the network and not within his control.

During the interview, Collins revealed that the true story behind that particular series had never been made known. She referred to Euphoria and explained that her decision to relocate to Los Angeles stemmed from Levinson's outreach to Collins' agency. Levinson, in Collins' own words, had stated, "I crafted the show based on your photographs. Would you be interested in directing it?" Collins mentioned that she was involved in the casting process and contributed to shaping the world of the show. However, just before the production's commencement, HBO informed her that they couldn't hire her due to her age. Although disappointed, Collins accepted their decision, only to discover later that they had utilized her vision for the show.

The latest Euphoria news comes after a concerning report on The Idol, a project led by Levinson. Initially, Amy Seimetz, the director of the indie horror She Dies Tomorrow, was set to direct the HBO series. However, she left the project in April 2022 during significant reshoots. There were rumors that Seimetz was fired from The Idol, leading to a change in its direction when Levinson took over. This sparked criticism on social media following Collins' comments.

HBO, along with The Idol's stars, released statements to debunk the reports and show support for Levinson. Despite the success of Euphoria, Levinson continues to attract attention for alleged conflicts behind the scenes. The show, featuring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, received negative reviews and was canceled after one season. Nonetheless, Levinson's collaboration with HBO has resulted in a major hit with Euphoria.

Source: Punkt, The Daily Beast