Dominic Fike Reveals Struggles with Substance Abuse During ‘Euphoria’ Filming
Musician and actor Dominic Fike candidly disclosed in a recent video interview with Apple Music that he battled with drug addiction while working on the second season of HBO’s hit series “Euphoria.” Fike portrayed the character Elliot, a drug user entangled in a love triangle alongside Rue (Zendaya) and Jules (Hunter Schafer), while also contributing to Rue’s relapse. Fike revealed that the show’s creator, Sam Levinson, attempted to provide a “sober coach” to support him in maintaining sobriety, but the effort ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Acknowledging his struggles, Fike told Zane Lowe, “I was a drug addict, and coming on to a show that’s primarily about drugs is very challenging… Sam, the director and writer, got me a sober coach, somebody to be there all the time. It did not work.”
When asked if he had ever filmed scenes for “Euphoria” while under the influence, Fike openly admitted, “Oh my god. Yeah, dude. I was so fucked up during a lot of that show. It was really bad.”
He further revealed that he faced reprimands for his behavior and was at risk of being removed from the show. Fike recalled the conversation, saying, “They were like, ‘Bro, you cannot be doing this.'”
Despite the setbacks, Fike remained part of the show, and he even shared that Levinson ended up using some takes in which he was visibly high because there were limited alternatives available.
In a previous interview with Variety during the production of “Euphoria” Season 2, Fike candidly expressed that he didn’t need to do much acting for his role as Elliot since the character mirrored aspects of his own life. He also praised his co-stars Zendaya and Hunter Schafer as “the nicest people ever,” highlighting their humor and camaraderie on set.
Fike’s honest account sheds light on the personal struggles he faced while working on “Euphoria” and underscores the challenges he encountered as he grappled with substance abuse.