Barbie Ferreira shock: Here’s why actress decided to exit ‘Euphoria’ Season 3

Fans will have to say farewell to Kat Hernandez, as actress Barbie Ferreira has announced her departure from HBO’s “Euphoria.”

On Wednesday, the “Euphoria” star announced on her Instagram story that she would not be returning to the HBO hit series for its third season. The final episode aired in February of this year, with an average of 16.3 million viewers for the show’s second season.

The actress shared a fan-created image of her character, Kat Hernandez, along with the following announcement:

“After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character Kat, I’m having to say a very teary eyed goodbye. I hope many of you could see yourself in her like I did, and that she brought you joy to see her journey into the character she is today.”

It’s no surprise that “Euphoria” fans adore Ferreira’s character, as Kat has been known to use the internet to escape the realities of high school life. Ferreira portrayed Kat Hernandez, a high schooler who thrived in her secret online life as a famous fan fiction writer before becoming a dominatrix after a scandal was revealed.

Several controversies have surrounded the production of “Euphoria” this season. According to sources, several complaints have been made to SAG-AFTRA, ranging from long hours on set to a “toxic” production. In a statement to THR, HBO defended its production against these allegations.

An HBO spokesperson said:

“The production was in full compliance with all safety guidelines and guild protocols. It’s not uncommon for drama series to have complex shoots, and COVID protocols add an additional layer. We maintain an open line of communication with all the guilds, including SAG-AFTRA. There were never any formal inquiries raised.”

In another controversy, insiders claim that Barbie Ferreira stormed off the set after an incident. According to the allegations, director Sam Levinson and the actress were at odds over the character of Kat Hernandez. Ferreira allegedly believed that her character’s storyline in the second season was less significant than in the first.

Ferreira made her film debut in “Unpregnant” and appeared as a cameo in “Nope” in addition to her role in “Euphoria.”