Zendaya's bond with 'Euphoria' creator Sam Levinson got 'strained' as he decided to focus on 'The Idol'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The once-close friendship between 'Euphoria' star Zendaya and creator Sam Levinson is reportedly falling apart due to rumors that the actress became upset after Levinson allegedly decided to concentrate on 'The Idol.'

Levinson and Zendaya are said to have a "strained relationship" because he "turned his attention to controversial show The Idol" rather than the much anticipated season 3 of 'Euphoria'.

Zendaya allegedly disapproved of Sam Levinson's focus on HBO's 'The Idol'

Showrunner Sam Levinson, 39, and Zendaya, 27, who portrays Rue on the popular HBO series, are allegedly at odds because Levinson focused on 'The Idol' starring Lily Rose Depp and The Weeknd more than he did on 'Euphoria's second season.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Zendaya's "frustration grew" when Levinson was unable to deliver the script for 'Euphoria' season 3, which has not yet started filming.

The situation got so dire that Zendaya convened a meeting with two of HBO's top executives, Francesca Orsi and Casey Bloys, and demanded to know why the network had let Levinson work on a different HBO series while 'Euphoria' was in jeopardy.

As per THR piece, Zendaya was "demanding to know why the network allowed Levinson to turn his attention to another show — an HBO show, no less — with Euphoria hanging in the balance."

The two used to be so close that they worked together on the 'Malcolm & Marie' movie when Season 2 of 'Euphoria' was postponed due to the pandemic. However, sources claimed that Zendaya's dissatisfaction escalated further after March 2023.

The reported schism between them intensified in March 2023 following the publication of an article by Rolling Stone that claimed 'The Idol' had gone "disgustingly, disturbingly off the rails" due to a toxic work environment.

The show was dubbed "torture porn" by both critics and fans and was often lambasted for the multiple explicit sexual sequences interspersed throughout the series, per Daily Mail.

The article further stated that Zendaya was urged to distance herself from Levinson though she had no involvement with 'The Idol,' which was canceled after only one season.

According to a representative, "fans were turning against Sam" and "urging Zendaya to distance herself," with the latter feeling offended that it would tarnish her "pristine image."

Zendaya allegedly concentrates more on her film career than 'Euphoria' franchise

A source close to the show claimed that although Zendaya, Levinson, Bloys, and Orsi met again months later in an apparent attempt at reconciliation, "they went from being so close, and they couldn’t fix it."

The Rolling Stone article added that Zendaya is opposed to Ashley, Levinson's wife, serving as the show's only executive producer for season 3.

However, a source close to Levinson claimed that Zendaya was allegedly "dragging her feet" over 'Euphoria' because of her rising cinematic career following her roles in the 'Dune' movie and 'Challengers.'

"It was all about her. Everybody wanted to make it about Sam, but it was her," the source remarked.

HBO sources, however, claimed that Zendaya and Levinson's relationship has started to warm up ahead of 'Euphoria's third season's January 2025 production.

According to other sources, fellow star Jacob Elordi has been "aloof and ambivalent" about returning to 'Euphoria' but has already signed on for a third season. Meanwhile, Sydney Sweeney was excited to return to the show with Levinson at the helm.