Labrinth Announces He's 'Done' with Music Industry in Explosive Social Media Post
British musician and producer Labrinth has declared he is "done" with the entertainment industry in a dramatic outburst on social media, directly criticising both his record label Columbia and the hit HBO television series Euphoria for which he composed the acclaimed score. The Emmy-winning artist, whose real name is Timothy Lee McKenzie, shared the incendiary post overnight on Friday 13 March 2026, writing in all caps: "IM DONE WITH THIS INDUSTRY. F*** COLUMBIA. DOUBLE F*** EUPHORIA. IM OUT. THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT X."
Timing and Industry Context
The timing of Labrinth's public declaration is particularly striking, coming just one month before the scheduled premiere of Euphoria's highly anticipated third season on 12 April 2026. Representatives for Labrinth, Columbia Records, HBO, and Euphoria showrunner Sam Levinson have been contacted for comment regarding the musician's unexpected announcement.
Labrinth first gained recognition as the lead composer for Euphoria's inaugural season, receiving widespread critical praise for his distinctive dark electronic and R&B soundscapes that perfectly complemented the show's intense themes of adolescent turmoil. Several of his original compositions became integral to the series, including "Mount Everest" and "All For Us," the latter featuring vocals from lead actress Zendaya.
Creative Collaboration and Previous Praise
Ironically, Labrinth had previously expressed considerable admiration for the creative freedom afforded to him by showrunner Sam Levinson during their collaboration. In a 2022 interview with Variety, the producer explained: "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.' 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.'"
The musician's contributions to Euphoria earned significant accolades, with "All For Us" winning an Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, while the complete score received a nomination for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series. Labrinth returned to compose the music for the show's second season and even made a cameo appearance in season four, performing the song "I'm Tired" during a drug-induced fantasy sequence experienced by Zendaya's character Rue.
Production Challenges and Cast Developments
Euphoria itself has faced considerable production challenges in recent years, with work on the third season experiencing significant delays partly due to the Hollywood strikes of 2024 and the tragic death of actor Angus Cloud at age 25. Cloud portrayed Rue's friend and drug dealer Fezco on the series, and his passing profoundly impacted the production timeline.
While Levinson continued developing scripts for season three, many cast members pursued other opportunities during the extended hiatus. Zendaya in particular has emerged as one of Hollywood's most sought-after actors, starring in major projects including Denis Villeneuve's Dune sequel and Luca Guadagnino's romantic sports film Challengers. Her upcoming 2026 releases feature the romantic black comedy The Drama opposite Robert Pattinson and Christopher Nolan's blockbuster The Odyssey alongside Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Tom Holland.
The coming-of-age drama Euphoria has earned nine Emmy Awards across its first two seasons for its unflinching portrayal of teenagers navigating drugs, sex, social media, broken homes, and the complex emotions of adolescence. With Labrinth's sudden departure announcement creating uncertainty about the musical direction of the forthcoming season, the industry awaits further developments regarding both the producer's future and the show's continued creative evolution.
