Musician Labrinth has been slamming Euphoria amid its third season — but what led to the offscreen drama?
Since Euphoria debuted on HBO in 2019, Labrinth has become synonymous with the hit series. The music producer, whose real name is Timothy Lee McKenzie, collaborated with creator Sam Levinson and formed a friendship with star Zendaya while conceptualizing Euphoria’s signature sound.
The show suffered a multitude of delays before season 3 premiered in April 2026. By then, Labrinth hinted at issues behind the scenes.
“I’m done with this industry,” he shared in an Instagram post in March 2026. “F*** Columbia. Double f*** Euphoria. I’m out. Thank you and good night x.”
The drama continued to play out in the public eye as Hans Zimmer served as the show’s sole composer for season 3. Labrinth, for his part, announced new music set to be released at the exact time as Euphoria‘s season premiere.
Keep scrolling for a breakdown of the scandal:
How Long Was Labrinth Part of the ‘Euphoria’ Team?
Labrinth got his start in the 2010s but had his breakout moment when Euphoria debuted on HBO. He crafted the soundtrack for seasons 1 and 2 and collaborated with Zendaya on the song “All for Us” for the show.
Labrinth ultimately received an Emmy in the Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics category for season 1.
What Led to Labrinth Leaving ‘Euphoria’?
The musician hinted at a divide in March 2026 when he seemingly confirmed his retirement from the industry. He later elaborated on what caused him to step away from his involvement with Euphoria.
“People will comfortably lie in this industry and still call themselves honest people. So no cap, I decided to remove whatever music I had in it,” he wrote via Instagram in April 2026.
He continued: “I spoke to HBO, as far as I know, we are cool. I left because, last truth, when I work for someone, their vision is paramount to me, but I don’t let people treat me like s***.”
Did Creator Sam Levinson Address the Drama?
Sam Levinson spoke to Rolling Stone about the music change in season 3, saying, “[Labrinth is] an incredible collaborator and someone who really built the foundation of the sound of Euphoria.”
Levinson pointed out that a five-year time jump caused the “pop roots” of the sound to have “faded away.” He added, “In general, I was less interested in needle drops and more interested in something that guided us through this world.”
Composer Hans Zimmer was asked to lead the score with full composer credits. Labrinth, for his part, announced the release of the song “Shut Your Damn 95.7892” for the same time as the Euphoria season 3 premiere.
