Actor and model Barbie Ferreira won the hearts of viewers everywhere as Kat Hernandez in HBO's Euphoria, though many were upset to find Kat's storyline dramatically reduced in season 2. A few months after the sophomore season's premiere, Barbie announced that she would be leaving the series entirely ahead of season 3. “After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character Kat, I’m having to say a very teary eyed goodbye,” Barbie wrote on Instagram at the time. Now, the former Euphoria star is speaking out about what really led to her departure from the show, and how she feels about Kat today.
During the spring of 2022, Barbie was the subject of many rumors about a potential on-set feud with series creator Sam Levinson. Once she announced her exit from the show, speculation grew that the “feud” may have led to her saying a premature farewell to Kat. At the time, Barbie swiftly dismissed those rumors as "untrue," and says the same in a new interview on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast.
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“When people ask me about season 2, it’s usually they come at me with, like, I was some sort of victim to season 2 and I’m always like, ‘No, it’s okay, promise. It’s good,'” Barbie said. “I kind of got sucked into this drama that I never asked to be in and that I’ve never talked about. I’m of the mindset that if it doesn’t exist I’m not going to address it because then I’m adding fuel to it. It’s taken on a life of its own. Don’t believe everything you read.”
Any Euphoria fan can confirm that Kat's storyline felt like an afterthought in the second season, somewhat of a shock given how much screen time she got in the first season, navigating her body image, her sexuality, and finding self-acceptance as well as her first love. Barbie seemingly addressed her feelings about her character's stunted journey in the second season — and potentially beyond — in her conversation with Shepard, noting that her departure was "a mutual decision" and that she ultimately didn't want Kat to be reduced to a sidekick role.
“I think my character, who I love so dearly, I don't think there was a place for her to go… She had run her course, story-wise," said Barbie on the podcast. "I think there were places she could have gone… I don't know if it was going to do her justice and I think both parties knew that. I really wanted to be able to not be the fat best friend, you know? I don't want to play that and I think think they didn't want that either."
She noted that she would have been happy to keep playing Kat for as long as possible, but it depended on whether her character would be provided with good, thoughtful material. According to Barbie, she felt like she had "overstayed her welcome," but denied any hard feelings, including the rumor that she once walked off of the Euphoria set. (She did sprain her ankle while filming, though.) To her, it came down to not having the right story and feeling like her character wasn't fully fleshed out or appreciated.
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“I feel like with season two and certain parts of it, I felt was a kind of a struggle for both parties... to find the continuation of [Kat]. So that was actually really hurtful watching it and seeing the fans get upset," Barbie explained. "Sam [Levinson] writes for things that he relates to. I don't think he relates to Kat. I like Kat, so I get to go on my own path."
While it's clear Barbie Ferreira will miss the character she so memorably brought to life, she says she is ready for her next chapter: “It really has been a good thing." You can listen to Barbie's full episode of Armchair Expert below:
