Doctor explains terrifying reality behind Zendaya Euphoria scene that left viewers with ‘total disgust'

The new season of Euphoria may only have one episode out so far but it has already managed to stoke widespread controversy for two of the most talked about scenes.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Sydney Sweeney was again a major talking point, though this time it was for a bizarre sexual scene in which she pretended to be a baby for her OnlyFans account.

The other major scene, however, takes place in the first 15 minutes of the new episode and sees Zendaya’s Rue and Chloe Cherry’s Faye both acting as drug mules.

The pair both agree to help smuggle fentanyl from Mexico to the US, swallowing plastic wrapped balloons filled with drugs that are shoved down their throats with lube.

While many may think this is slightly far-fetched from the TV show, this is actually a shockingly common trend in which drug mules are forced to smuggle substances in their stomach, and if it goes wrong, it can have a horrific outcome.

Doctor explained what happens if drug pellets rupture in your stomach

Dr Martin Roche spoke to Vice for a video about what happens if cocaine pellets explode midway through someone smuggling them, and it is incredibly dangerous.

He stated that he had seen ‘several’ cases over the years, explaining: “If you're carrying as a mule packets of cocaine and when ruptures the acute powder of cocaine is rapidly absorbed it creates a disaster in your stomach.”

Dr Roche stated than the movie Pulp Fiction’s overdose scene is fairly accurate portrayal of what would happen if cocaine pellets rupture in your stomach.

The drugs being absorbed in your stomach can cause it to go directly into your blood stream as opposed to more traditional ways of consumption, with the doctor explaining that it can race to your brain and is toxic.

Dr Roche called the stomach the ‘worst way’ to smuggle it due to the dangers if it ruptures, and fentanyl is even more dangerous than cocaine.

Fentanyl is considered lethal in incredibly small doses, so Rue and Faye smuggling it in their stomach would almost certainly be fatal if it were to explode.

Thankfully, Zendaya and Chloe Cherry didn’t exactly have to go method on this particular scene.

Chloe Cherry explained how they filmed the Euphoria scene

Speaking to Decider, Cherry said: “He was like, ‘I really, really, really need to see in the scene that it is absolutely disgusting to swallow these fentanyl balloons. Like, I need it to be just awful. I need people to just see that it is so disgusting and hard and horrible to do this.

“I was putting real KY Jelly into my mouth. It was a condom, or a balloon, or something and then they put something that just looks like a powder… it could have been anything. And then they just tied it up.

“So yes, it is disgusting to swallow bags, balloons filled with fentanyl, even if the fentanyl is fake because we’re on a set. It is very gross.”

Warning: The clip below contains graphic scenes

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— jadecomjota (@jadecomjota) April 13, 2026

The Faye actress also told Metro that 'whole crew clapped' for her after shooting the scene.

“They were so amazed at how disgusting I made that scene,” she added.

Fans were indeed grossed out by the scene, with some reporting that it made them want to throw up watching.

One posted on X: “The most uncomfortable I’ve seen watching this show and that’s saying something.”

Another added: “Oh my god the way Rue & Faye smuggled fentanyl to America.”

Someone else commented: “That first episode of Euphoria, the scene with Rue and Faye swallowing those things, I almost threw up; I watched it while gagging.”