Actor Chloe Cherry, who portrays Faye in HBO’s “Euphoria”, has revealed the behind-the-scenes reality of the series’ graphic fentanyl muling scene from its recently aired third season. Cherry confirmed that she and co-star Zendaya actually ingested drug balloons coated in real K-Y Jelly, dispelling any notions of CGI or fakery in the disturbing sequence.
The episode, which premiered this past Sunday, features Rue and Faye forcibly swallowing golf-ball-sized bundles filled with fake fentanyl to pay off drug debts. Cherry detailed the visceral experience, explaining they used actual condoms or balloons filled with powder (likely baby powder) and real lubricant. She stated: “I had to put real K-Y Jelly into my mouth, and real… It was a condom, or a balloon, or something. Then they just tied it up so it looks like balloons full of fentanyl.”
Cherry emphasized that director Sam Levinson insisted on extreme realism. She recounted his direction: “He was like: ‘I really, really, really need to see in the scene that it is absolutely disgusting to swallow these fentanyl balloons. Like, I need it to be just awful. I need people to just see that it is so disgusting and hard and horrible to do this.'” This approach led to prolonged scenes of the actors gagging and regurgitating during filming.
Despite the grim content, Cherry described her positive experience. “I had an amazing time filming that scene because my greatest joy in this lifetime is performing,” she shared, noting crew members applauded her effort upon completion. Cherry dismissed concerns about the unhygienic elements, stating: “That was not hard at all for me. I had a great time because I just love entertaining people, genuinely.”
The scene’s disturbing visuals extended beyond swallowing, including a graphic depiction of accidental fecal expulsion and a dog licking the substance—a sequence Cherry characterized as “genuinely” repulsive.
Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniesoteriou/chloe-cherry-gross-euphoria-montage-zendaya-details