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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Roisin O'Connor

Labrinth declares he’s ‘done’ with industry and slams hit show Euphoria

British musician Labrinth has blasted both his record label and Euphoria, the hit TV show he composed the score for, announcing he is “done” with the entertainment industry.

The producer and musician, real name Timothy Lee McKenzie, shared the Instagram post overnight on Friday (13 March), just weeks after releasing his latest album, Cosmic Opera: Act I, and shortly before the premiere of Euphoria’s long-awaited third season.

“IM DONE WITH THIS INDUSTRY [sic],” he wrote. “F*** COLUMBIA. DOUBLE F*** EUPHORIA. IM OUT. THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT X.”

The Independent has contacted representatives for Labrinth, Columbia, HBO and Euphoria showrunner Sam Levinson for comment.

Labrinth made his scoring debut when he was announced as the lead composer for the first season of HBO’s hit teen drama Euphoria, receiving critical praise for his dark electronic and R&B sounds that complemented the themes of the show.

Several of his original songs, including “Mount Everest” and “All For Us” (the latter featuring vocals from lead actor Zendaya), were also featured.

“All For Us” went on to win an Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, while the score was nominated for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series.

Labrinth returned to compose the score for Euphoria’s second season and made a cameo in season four, in which he performs the song “I’m Tired’ during a drug-induced fantasy sequence experienced by Zendaya’s character, Rue.

The musician has previously praised Levinson for the creative freedom he said he had given him, including the way he apparently encouraged him to write when he was inspired, rather than for a specific scene.

“The main approach with most of the music on the show is Sam is like, ‘Lab, just make what the f*** you’re making. Don’t let no one get in the way of what you’re making, just do what you do,’” Labrinth told Variety in 2022.

“Especially being in the music industry, sometimes you can feel pushed to do something that people are expecting to hear, whereas Sam’s just like, ‘I want to hear the weirdest s*** in your hard drive.’”

It is not clear what has caused Labrinth to distance himself from the show. Just last weekend, he appeared alongside Levinson at Paris Fashion Week, where Levinson teased footage from the show’s new season.

Last year, it was announced that Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer had been brought on for the third season alongside Labrinth.

The coming-of-age drama revolves around a group of teenagers trying to navigate drugs, sex, social media, broken homes, and problems and emotions associated with adolescence.

The show won nine Emmy awards for its first two seasons, including two for Zendaya, and one for Colman Domingo.

However, production on the third season was stalled in part due to the Hollywood strikes in 2024 and also the death of actor Angus Cloud, aged 25, who played Rue’s friend and drug dealer Fezco on the show.

Levinson continued to work on the scripts for season three while its cast – many of whom were propelled to greater fame after starring in the show – pursued other opportunities.

Zendaya performing with Labrinth at Coachella festival in 2023 (Getty Images for Coachella)

Zendaya in particular has gone on to become one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood, returning to star in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune sequel, and in Luca Guadagnino’s romantic sports film Challengers.

Her 2026 releases include the upcoming romantic black comedy The Drama, opposite Robert Pattinson, and Christopher Nolan’s next blockbuster The Odyssey with Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson.

The third season of Euphoria is due to premiere on HBO on 12 April 2026.

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