Sharon Stone believes there are helpful lessons to be learned from “Euphoria” and has even suggested the HBO drama must be mandatory viewing in high schools.
The actress made the suggestion during a conversation with Keke Palmer, who appeared to beat back against critics who’ve dismissed the series as overly risqué.
The pair also discussed issues affecting women, with Stone revealing that her marriage began to unravel after her ex-husband opposed her decision to undergo a mastectomy.
Stone is triggering a conversation about teen mental health after suggesting HBO’s critically acclaimed yet controversial series “Euphoria” must be required viewing for prime school students.
The 68-year-old actress sat down with Palmer for a wide-ranging conversation covering all the pieces from their humble upbringings and experiences as single moms to their admiration for the hit teen drama.
Despite the criticism the series has faced, Stone said she was moved to tears by the best way it portrays its characters’ struggles, arguing that it reflects challenges many young people experience in real life.
“When the primary episode ended, I just sat there and cried. After which I read these reviews about how people wanted it to be this completely satisfied ending, and I’m like, ‘What you saw was so honest,’” she said, per Variety.
“‘Euphoria’ is so relevant. I imagine it must be shown in every highschool, and I feel all of the parents should should see it. As a mom, I like it,” she added.
Stone Shares Family Drug Struggle
Stone joined the forged of “Euphoria” in Season 3 as Patty Lance, a robust Hollywood executive who crosses paths with Lexi Howard, played by Maude Apatow.
During her interview with Palmer, the “Basic Instinct” star explained that the show’s themes resonate deeply along with her due to her family’s own experiences with drugs and addiction.
Reflecting on her role, Stone praised the series because the “biggest show on television” and revealed that her brother became involved within the drug trade and eventually served time in prison. “I’ve passed through it in my family,” she said. “My brother went to the most important prison in Recent York. He got within the drug business. It kept going. I used to be like, ‘You may have to get out. You may have to let me repay your vig.’ He was like, ‘It doesn’t work like that. You possibly can’t pay it off.’”
Keke Palmer Pushes Back On ‘Euphoria’ Critics
While discussing the series, Palmer appeared to challenge critics who’ve often accused “Euphoria” of relying too heavily on explicit content.
The HBO drama has remained a lightning rod for debate throughout its run, with viewers often questioning a few of its more provocative storylines.
One of the talked-about arcs this season involved Sydney Sweeney’s character, Cassie, whose controversial decisions sparked significant online discussion and renewed scrutiny of creator Sam Levinson’s creative decisions.
Addressing the criticism, Palmer suggested that many viewers give attention to the show’s surface-level elements while overlooking its deeper themes.
“I feel sometimes people stop on the surface of ‘No, it’s an excessive amount of sex,’” Palmer said.
Sharon Stone Says Disagreement On Mastectomy Led To Marriage Rift
Stone also reflected on some of the difficult periods of her personal life, revealing that her decision to undergo a bilateral mastectomy created serious strain in her marriage.
In her memoir, “The Fantastic thing about Living Twice,” the actress explained how doctors discovered multiple tumors in her breasts and warned her in regards to the risks she faced.
Speaking on David Begnaud’s “The Person Who Believed In Me” podcast, Stone recalled how her then-husband strongly disagreed along with her decision.
“One in all [the tumors] was greater than the dimensions of my entire left breast,” she said. She went on to elucidate that doctors urged her to undergo a bilateral mastectomy due to severity of the situation. Still, her husband dismissed the advice before leaving the room throughout the discussion.
Sharon Stone Shares Her ‘Dad Questions’ Rule
Elsewhere within the conversation, Stone opened up in regards to the realities of raising her three adopted sons as a single parent.
The actress admitted that parenting alone might be difficult, even with a support system, and said the experience fundamentally modified her.
As her sons grew older, Stone explained that they began asking questions they might traditionally have taken to a father figure. To deal with that, she created a novel approach inside her home.
“I took them to a certain room of my house and closed the door, and said, ‘That is where we do dad questions. And now you consult with me like I’m your dad,” Stone told Palmer. She added: “We’re going to speak about anything you would possibly have to learn about this, this, or this.”