Barbie Ferreira reveals why she left ‘Euphoria’: ‘Fat best friend’ stereotype

nypost.com:

“Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard” podcast where she explained why she really decided to leave, while also addressing “toxic” set accusations and her much-rumored feud with show runner Sam Levinson.The Queens native portrayed Kat Hernandez on the teen drama and noted that she was tired of playing into “fat best friend” stereotypes.

She added that it was a “mutual decision” for her to leave the series before Season 3, explaining that Kat’s character arc had run its course.“I don’t think there was a place for her to go,” Ferreira said. “I think there were places she could have gone.

I just don’t think it would have fit into the show. I don’t know if it was going to do her justice, and I think both parties [Levinson and I] knew that I really wanted to be able to not be the fat best friend.”The bottom line: “I don’t want to play that — and I think they didn’t want that either.”Ferreira admitted that it was a “struggle” to find significant plot lines for her character in Season 2, and that ultimately led to her exit.She also told host Shepard how it wasn’t just a fight within herself, but it was even a conflict for Levinson as well.“It was a struggle to find the continuation of her.

So that was actually really hurtful watching it and seeing the fans get upset,” the “Unpregnant” star said.“I just felt like, maybe it’s like I overstayed my welcome a little bit?” Ferreira continued. “So, for me, I actually felt good to be like, ‘Okay, I get to not worry about this and we both don’t get too worried about this,’ because it’s exhausting.”She then claimed that Levinson only writes for “things that he relates to” and doesn’t think he bonded with Kat. “I like Kat, so I get to go on my own path,” she said.