Labrinth breaks silence on ‘Euphoria’ exit days before season 3 premiere; here’s the reason he left the show

As anticipation reaches a fever pitch for Euphoria Season 3’s April 12, 2026 premiere, British musician and composer Labrinth (Timothy Lee McKenzie) has issued fresh public comments clarifying his sudden departure from one of the most culturally influential TV shows of the decade.

Since Euphoria debuted in 2019, Labrinth’s musical identity became inseparable from the HBO drama’s emotional core. The English singer, songwriter and producer crafted haunting scores and standout songs such as Still Don’t Know My Name and the Emmy-winning original track All for Us (performed with Zendaya) that charted internationally and helped define the show’s tone.

His creative partnership with Euphoria showrunner Sam Levinson culminated in music that blended electronic, orchestral, and gospel influences, earning critical praise and a dedicated fanbase.

What happened: Instagram statements and fallout

On March 13, 2026, Labrinth stunned fans with a dramatic Instagram post appearing to distance himself from both the music industry and Euphoria itself. In all-caps text, he wrote that he was “done with this industry,” followed by expletive-laced criticism directed at his record label Columbia Records and the show, declaring “Double f*** Euphoria.”

This cryptic message offered no clear explanation, only amplifying confusion among viewers as Season 3 approached.

In more recent Instagram Stories shared on April 11, Labrinth offered a sharper rationale: he would not allow himself to be mistreated. “People will comfortably lie in this industry and still call themselves honest people,” he wrote, explaining that he had opted to remove whatever music he had prepared for Season 3 and affirming, “when I work for someone, their vision is paramount to me, but I don’t let people treat me like sh*t.”

He also noted that he had spoken with HBO and believed “as far as I know we are cool,” suggesting his exit was confirmed with mutual awareness rather than legal dispute.

Hans Zimmer is now the sole credited musical director for the new episodes.

Levinson had previously told Rolling Stone he was unsure of the specifics behind Labrinth’s removal, describing the composer as “an incredible collaborator” who “built the foundation of the sound of Euphoria.”

This shift accompanies the show’s narrative evolution: Season 3 leaps five years ahead from its high-school setting and pursues a more mature and complex emotional landscape, potentially influencing the creative soundtrack direction.