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Ex-Euphoria Actor's New Job Sparks Fan Outrage

Ex-Euphoria Actor's New Job Sparks Fan Outrage

Buzz Feed6 days ago
Euphoria fans just received a huge reality check after seeing what it's really like being a struggling actor in Hollywood.
Nika King is widely known for playing Leslie Bennett (aka Rue and Gia's mom) on the hit HBO series for the first two seasons.
Three years after Season 2 debuted in January 2022, it was announced that Season 3 had finally begun filming. It even included a photo of Zendaya on set for additional proof.
Delays in production were due to a slew of reasons, which ranged from the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes in 2023 to alleged behind-the-scenes drama with claims of a "toxic" work environment and grueling "18-hour" workdays. During this delay, Euphoria producer Kevin Turen died in November 2023 from multiple heart issues, and Angus Cloud, who starred as the beloved Fez, tragically died of an accidental overdose at the age of 25 in July 2023.
On top of all that, two cast members revealed they had no plans on returning to the show: Barbie Ferriera announced the shocking news shortly after Season 2 ended, while Storm Reid revealed she would be focusing on other things, like graduating from USC and working on projects through her production company.
The delays also caused strain and stress for some of the cast members, including Nika. In March 2024, during one of her stand-up comedy shows posted on her TikTok, the actor and comedian admitted she was having trouble paying her rent because filming for Euphoria was taking so long to commence.
'People are like, 'We need Season 3.' I'm like, 'Bitch, I need Season 3. I haven't paid my rent in six months. I thought my career was on the rise after Euphoria. I thought I was good. It don't work that way. I called Taraji [P. Henson} and she was like, 'Bitch, get used to it.''While she recently starred in the American drama film Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot, we should note that filming for it began back in 2022.
Fast forward to February 2025, Nika announced her "character is not coming back to the show," after she received tons of DMs and comments asking about Season 3. "Unfortunately, I'm not [returning]," she said in a video posted online. "My character is not coming back to the show, but I am forever grateful to HBO, Zendaya, and Sam Levinson for giving me the opportunity to come on set."
"Without Euphoria, I was not able to step into who I am as an actor."
Fans showered her with words of encouragement on her future endeavors, while also expressing sadness that they won't see her in future episodes.
But concern for Nika grew when she recently shared a video of her cleaning what appeared to be a restaurant kitchen. She captioned the clip, "When ppl ask me if I'm filming S3 of Euphoria?" while the caption for the post read, "A job is a job."
Reactions ranged from saying how "fucked up" it is that her promising acting career led her to a non-Hollywood position, to applause for her vulnerability in sharing the realities of being a struggling actor in the industry:
At first glance, I had similar thoughts, but I quickly found out there was more to her post than meets the eye. After noticing she tagged an account on the post I checked the page out, and discovered Nika not only works in that kitchen, but she co-owns the establishment it's located in.
The account is linked to Blue Tree Cafe, a vegan soul food restaurant run by Nika and her mother, Sharon Allen. The page was a pleasant surprise because the food looks delicious, and their playful relationship shines in their videos.
And once others caught on as well,
But owning a restaurant is no easy feat either. Nika hopped on a popular social media trend where people show how they mask their true emotions while dealing with a crisis — and for Nika, that was the current status of the restaurant. Nika and her mother also set up a GoFundMe as a way to help the establishment from closing.
I truly appreciate the transparency, even if it's done through laughter. I don't know about you, but I'm wishing Nika success in all of her passions — acting, comedy, and restaurateur.
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32 Summer Products For Homebodies
32 Summer Products For Homebodies

Buzz Feed

time9 minutes ago

  • Buzz Feed

32 Summer Products For Homebodies

A portable 120-inch screen bringing the cinematic experience of a drive-in to you. Set it up with a mini Bluetooth projector (compatible with TV sticks, gaming consoles, laptops, your phone, and more) and enjoy entertainment under the stars with family and friends (or solo). A lightweight, hypoallergenic heat-absorbing cooling blanket — one side is made of 100% Egyptian cotton, while the other has "Arc-Chill" cooling fibers that absorb your body heat and wick away moisture, instantly cooling you by 4–9 degrees. It's perfect for hot sleepers who love to snuggle but hate waking up sweaty! A 10-foot USB-C cable so you can continue scrolling deep in the TikTok vortex without worrying about your phone's battery entering the red zone. With this gloriously long piece of charging magic, you can stay snuggled in your "you-shaped" dent without ever having to budge. (Oh, and if you're rocking an older iPhone model, here's a version for that!) A cool-to-the-touch bamboo fabric sleep set that'll have you counting down the minutes until you can slip into it. Made with light, breathable fabric, this set is perfect for anyone who always runs hot and needs a little extra help staying cool and comfortable in bed. A bestselling double cotton hammock so you can kick back in your own cozy cocoon without a care in the world. This sturdy steel setup is your quick fix to the age-old "no trees to hang a hammock" problem, making your dream of lounging in a hanging haven a reality. An oscillating tower fan that's apparently so good, one reviewer crowned it "THE GLACIER." This fan has six different speeds and can blow cool air up to 30 feet away. Plus, it comes with four modes to choose from, so you can customize the breeze just how you like it, and reviewers rave about how incredibly quiet it is. No more annoying fan noise while you're trying to relax or sleep! 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A "Nap Guardian" doorbell cover — a godsend for all the parents, pet owners, and nap aficionados out there. This helps prevent your doorbell from being rung at the most inconvenient time, interrupting your peace and quiet. Your little ones can snooze soundly, your overly excited fur babies can stay blissfully on the couch, and you? You can finally get that glorious shut-eye you've been dreaming about! A chic cooler designed to keep your drinks ice cold and at your fingertips while lounging outside. As a bonus, just close the lid up and the cooler becomes a sleek side table. A rechargeable mosquito repellent patio shield creating an invisible 20-foot barrier, keeping those pesky skeeters away without the need for bug spray or citronella candles. Think of it as having your own personal force field that lets you actually enjoy your time outside. 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Mario And Peach Are Just Friends
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Mario And Peach Are Just Friends

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Ozzy didn't corrupt America's youth. He exposed the hypocrisy of their elders.
Ozzy didn't corrupt America's youth. He exposed the hypocrisy of their elders.

Indianapolis Star

time4 hours ago

  • Indianapolis Star

Ozzy didn't corrupt America's youth. He exposed the hypocrisy of their elders.

Ozzy Osbourne is dead, and some Christians may believe that the devil ushered him straight to the gates of hell. Few pop culture icons were as important, or as controversial, as Osbourne. The British-born rocker became the avatar of American culture wars more than a half-century ago by attempting to showcase the hypocrisy of modern religion. Osbourne launched his career in the late 1960s. Sensitive to cultural currents, he recognized what was happening not just in music, but also in religion and politics. He used it to build on the image of rock as subversive and countercultural. From the start, Osbourne understood how to bring attention to his art. Calling his band Black Sabbath sent a clear message. He aimed to subvert, not honor, Christianity. He integrated crosses, demonic imagery and symbols of the devil such as bats into his performances to highlight what he saw as the absurdity of organized religion. Osbourne sang lyrics in his first album about a 'figure in black' that directed him, and in another song, he took on the persona of Satan himself: 'My name is Lucifer, please take my hand.' In Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" album, released at the height of the Vietnam War, he sang 'War Pigs,' a song in which Satan laughed and spread his wings as political and military elites led the Western world to the doorstep of the apocalypse. Opinion: How faith becomes a weapon: 'If I can't understand it, it's not Christian' Such allusions to the demonic continued in album after album. Osbourne's career developed parallel to a new understanding of Satan. In the post-World War II era, the devil assumed a more prominent role in American life. Anton LaVey's founding of the Church of Satan in 1966 celebrated Satan as a symbol of rebellion, individualism and secular liberation. In other words, Satan was the opposite of everything anxious Cold War parents wanted to instill in their kids. Artists drew on this revamped Satan in their work. Films like "The Exorcist" (1973) and "The Omen" (1976) brought Satan − and fears of Satan's ability to inhabit human bodies − into the imaginations of millions of people. Osbourne made those themes central to his music. In the 1980s, while Osbourne was still releasing albums, fears of satanic ritual abuse swept across the United States. Christian conservatives fretted that Dungeons & Dragons, Ouija boards and horror films were gateways to demonic influence. High-profile cases like the McMartin preschool trial and the publication of memoirs about escaping satanic ritual abuse fueled widespread panic. Law enforcement agencies conducted seminars on occult crime, therapists uncovered repressed memories of ritual abuse and talk shows amplified claims of underground satanic cults. The panic revealed deep anxieties about child safety, cultural change and the perceived decline of Christian values in American society. Perhaps, parents and religious leaders wondered, was Osbourne driving kids into satanism? Perhaps his music was brainwashing the nation's youth? Conservative Christians − including evangelicals, Catholics and Latter-day Saints − believe in a cosmic battle between angels and demons that directly influences human affairs. They believe that unseen spiritual battles determine real-world outcomes, particularly in culture, politics and morality. Opinion: Kan-Kan Cinema is elevating Indy's cinema culture Many of them also believed they had to protect children from music like Osbourne's. This framework encouraged social conservatives to interpret issues like abortion, LGBTQ+ rights and the de-Christianizing of culture as evidence of demonic influence, necessitating counteraction through prayer, activism and political engagement. Osbourne and the genre of hard rock that he helped to promote contributed to their fears. In their minds, Osbourne was encouraging youth to rebel. And he was. Osbourne's fans understood what the rock star was doing. They loved it. The more angry Osbourne could make their parents, and the more he could rile up moral crusaders, the better. And he agreed. Playing with the devil became a hallmark of his long career. Briggs: Born into Jim Crow, she lived to witness DEI debates From witch hunts in Salem to conspiracy theories driving QAnon, Americans have used Satan to facilitate a politics of fear. They have used him to justify persecution, fuel moral panics, shape political and cultural battles, and assess global crises and war. But there has always been another side to Satan, the one Osbourne captured. His devil wasn't the horned villain of Christian nightmares but a trickster, a rebel, a symbol of freedom from sanctimony. In Osbourne's hands, Satan gave a theatrical middle finger to hypocrisy and lifted up a mirror to a society obsessed with sin, and he laughed. His life reminds us that sometimes, dancing with the devil is really just refusing to march in lockstep with the saints.

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