Zendaya Defended "Euphoria" And Said The Show Is "In No Way A Moral Tale" After Criticism About The Drug Use

"Our show is in no way a moral tale to teach people how to live their life or what they should be doing."

Euphoria is a great show — and it's also very intense and deals with some serious subject matter, including Rue's (Zendaya) issues with addiction.

Eddy Chen / HBO

The anti-drug organization D.A.R.E. — which itself has a questionable track record as an anti-drug organization — recently issued a statement claiming that the hit HBO TV show glamorizes drug use and sex.

Eddy Chen / HBO

"Rather than further each parent’s desire to keep their children safe from the potentially horrific consequences of drug abuse and other high-risk behavior," the statement read, "HBO’s television drama, Euphoria, chooses to misguidedly glorify and erroneously depict high school student drug use, addiction, anonymous sex, violence, and other destructive behaviors as common and widespread in today’s world."

Eddy Chen / HBO

“Our show is in no way a moral tale to teach people how to live their life or what they should be doing,” she said.

Eddy Chen / HBO

“If anything, the feeling behind Euphoria, or whatever we have always been trying to do with it, is to hopefully help people feel a little bit less alone in their experience and their pain.”

Eddy Chen / HBO

“And maybe feel like they’re not the only one going through or dealing with what they’re dealing with.”

Marcell Rev / HBO

“My biggest hope is that people are able to connect to it and those who need to heal and grow with Rue hopefully, by the end of this season, feel that hope and feel that change in her,” Zendaya concluded — and, honestly, that seems reasonable enough.

Eddy Chen / HBO

Read the entire interview here.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, you can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and find more resources here.