'Euphoria' star Barbie Ferreira says she left the show because she didn't want to play 'the fat best friend,' and doesn't think creator Sam Levinson 'relates to Kat'

• Barbie Ferreira addressed her decision to leave "Euphoria" on the "Armchair Expert" podcast.
• She said she doesn't believe creator Sam Levinson "relates to" her character, Kat Hernandez.

"Euphoria" star Barbie Ferreira said that the decision for her to leave the show was a "mutual decision" after considering where her character's story could go.

Ferreira starred in the first two seasons of the hit HBO series as Kat Hernandez, a high schooler who struggles with her body image.

After the show returned last year, there were unconfirmed rumors that Ferreira's lack of screen time in season two was due to tension with the series' showrunner, Sam Levinson. Ferreira later announced she was leaving the show, adding fuel to the fire.

During an interview on the "Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard" podcast Monday, Ferreira appeared to deny rumors of a feud with Levinson, and said that was not her reason for leaving the show.

"So, for me, when people ask me about season two, it's usually they come at me with, like, I was some sort of victim to season two and I'm always like, 'No, it's okay, promise. It's good,'" Ferreira said. "I actually did not walk off set. I did sprain my ankle once and had to go get an X-ray. Maybe that's what they mean?"

Ferreira went on to say it was a "mutual decision" for her to leave the show ahead of season three because Kat's story arc had run out of road.

"I don't think there was a place for her to go," Ferreira said. "I think there were places she could have gone. I just don't think it would have fit into the show. I don't know if it was going to do her justice, and I think both parties knew that I really wanted to be able to not be the fat best friend. I don't want to play that, and I think they didn't want that either."

Ferreira recalled it was a "struggle" to find a story for Kat in season two, which also led to her decision to leave.

In the first season, Kat was on a journey of self-discovery and at one point became an underaged cam-girl, but her main storyline in season two was a lot less interesting, hinging on her relationship with a classmate named Ethan (Austin Abrams).

"I feel like with season two and certain parts of it, I felt was a kind of a struggle for both parties. Sam, me... it was a struggle to find the continuation of her. So that was actually really hurtful watching it and seeing the fans get upset," Ferreira said.

"I just felt like, maybe it's like I overstayed my welcome a little bit? So, for me, I actually felt good to be like, 'Okay, I get to not worry about this and we both don't get too worried about this,' because it's exhausting."

She continued: "Sam writes for, like, things that he relates to. I don't think he relates to Kat. I like Kat, so I get to go on my own path. At first, I was like, 'Oh, my God, I'm a flop. I'm a loser.' It really has been a good thing."