Outside Lands performer Labrinth slams 'Euphoria' in cryptic post

The British producer and musician behind the show's music appears to be cutting ties with the HBO drama series.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:10pm by Ben Kaplan

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Ahead of his debut performance at the Outside Lands music festival in San Francisco, composer Labrinth shared a vague rant on Instagram criticizing the HBO drama series 'Euphoria,' which he has composed music for since 2019. In the post, Labrinth wrote 'F--- Columbia. Double f--- 'Euphoria.' I'm out,' seemingly severing ties with the show and its label. Labrinth's post has received over 483,000 likes and supportive messages from fellow musicians, though he has not elaborated on his grievances.

Why it matters

Labrinth's work on 'Euphoria' brought him mainstream fame, and his music has been a integral part of the show's success. His sudden public criticism of the series and his label raises questions about the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the popular HBO drama, which has faced various production challenges and controversies in recent years.

The details

Labrinth, whose real name is Timothy Lee McKenzie, rose to prominence as the composer for 'Euphoria' starting in 2019. He continued in that role for the show's second season, before Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer joined him for the upcoming third and final season premiering in April 2026. In 2024, Labrinth performed much of his 'Euphoria' music at the Coachella festival, even bringing on the show's star Zendaya for surprise collaborations.

  • Labrinth shared the critical Instagram post on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
  • The third and final season of 'Euphoria' is set to premiere on HBO on April 12, 2026.

The players

Labrinth

A British producer and musician who has composed music for the HBO drama series 'Euphoria' since 2019.

Columbia Records

The record label that Labrinth is signed to.

HBO

The network that airs the drama series 'Euphoria.'

Zendaya

The lead actress of 'Euphoria' who has collaborated with Labrinth on the show's music.

Hans Zimmer

The Oscar-winning German composer who joined Labrinth for the music of 'Euphoria' season 3.

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What they’re saying

“Take care of your peace my love. You are loved and supported.”

— Kesha, Singer (Instagram)

“Do not stop making art because of the suits. You're the realest one we have rn.”

— Ashley Osborn, Photographer (Instagram)

What’s next

The ordeal surrounding Labrinth's criticism of 'Euphoria' is still developing, and it remains to be seen if he will elaborate further on his grievances or if this marks the end of his involvement with the show.

The takeaway

Labrinth's public fallout with 'Euphoria' highlights the complex dynamics and pressures that can come with high-profile creative collaborations in the entertainment industry, even for acclaimed projects. This incident underscores the need for transparency, communication and mutual respect between artists, studios and production teams.