'Euphoria' Star Nika King Inspires Followers After Going Viral For Shocking Day Job

"Euphoria" actress Nika King has gone viral, not for a new role, but for a candid look at her real-life hustle. 

The show's fans are doing a double-take after a recent video revealed King working a catering job and cleaning a kitchen, sparking a wave of online support. 

Nika King portrayed Leslie Bennett, the mother of Rue (Zendaya) and Gia (Storm Reid), throughout the first two seasons of "Euphoria."

King is not hiding from reality; she is scrubbing right through it. The star sparked conversation this week after posting a candid, now-viral video on Instagram that showed her cleaning a restaurant stove while dressed in scrubs and gloves. 

Overlaying the clip, King wrote, "When ppl ask me if I'm filming S3 of Euphoria?" followed by "Me:" The caption accompanying the video simply read, "A job is a job," and it struck a chord.

Fans flooded the comments with praise, thanking King for showing a side of the acting world that is rarely shared. 

"This is real life and I'm glad you showed it. People think every actor or actress is rich off one show and I know some that works regular jobs after being on a Hulu show," one fan commented.

"As an actor who's been out of work for the past two years after the biggest show I've ever done, this felt really validating," another wrote. "Learning that actors have real jobs out of the filming roles is really humbling to me," someone else added.

Another follower praised her for showing up authentically, writing, "Love your vulnerability and sense of humor and DEPTH! As a young actor and comedian, I appreciate you letting us in like that!!" Another reaction read, "Now, this is what I'd like to call a REAL POST."

Before her viral kitchen-cleaning post grabbed the internet's attention, King had already been brutally honest about where things stood with the HBO series and her career.

Back in March 2024, King took the stage during a standup set and did not hold back about her thoughts on questions from fans about the show. 

"Season 3 is coming out. I don't f-cking know. Don't ask me. I don't know," shetold the crowd, shrugging, "I know, it's one of those things."

She then impersonated the kind of comments she constantly hears: "'We need season 3!'" she shouted, before replying to herself with biting honesty: "B-tch, I need season 3. I haven't paid my rent in six months."

King did not stop there. She turned her sights toward her on-screen daughter, played by Zendaya. "Zendaya is over in Paris at fashion week. I'm like, 'B-tch, come home! I need you! Mama needs you!'"

While the audience laughed, King reminded them she was only half-joking. "Y'all laughing and uhhh I'm serious. I haven't booked nothing since Euphoria. This is some b-llsh-t. I thought my career was on the rise. After Euphoria, I thought I was good. It don't work that way."

She even revealed she reached out to veteran actress Taraji P. Henson for advice, only to be met with brutal wisdom. "Taraji was like, 'B-tch, get used to it,'" she stated.

After joking about unpaid rent in the TikTok video, fans responded with nothing but love and a little humor of their own. "She's joking but deadass. I hope she finds more work soon!!" one fan wrote under the viral post. 

Another praised her unforgettable performance on the show, "You deserve an EMMY for your performance!!! Wishing you abundance and may everything you do prosper."

Some fans were shocked to hear she was not busier in Hollywood already. "Why did I think she was a popular actress?" one person asked, while another added, "Literally don't make no sense cuz she's so talented."

"Still don't understand why you weren't nominated for an Emmy for that ep in S2," someone else chimed in. "I hope many roles come your way. You deserve it." One optimistic fan noted, "Good things are always gonna come!"

By early 2025, "Euphoria" fans got confirmation of what many had already suspected: King would not be returning for the third season of the hit HBO series.

As Deadline reported, production on Season 3 officially began on February 10 in Los Angeles, marking the start of what is expected to be the show's final chapter. But while the cameras are rolling again, not everyone is stepping back into their old roles.

King, who played Rue's mom, Leslie Bennett, will not appear in the upcoming season, alongside Algee Smith, who portrayed McKay. 

They are not the only ones missing. Storm Reid, who brought Rue's younger sister Gia to life, also will not be returning, and Barbie Ferreira previously bowed out after playing Kat for two seasons.

King may be out of "Euphoria," but based on what is said to be happening on set, she might have dodged a bullet. The Blast highlighted that images from Season 3 filming showed Zendaya wearing an unmistakably drained expression. 

According to reports, she was not the only one feeling the pressure. In 2022, behind-the-scenes complaints painted a bleak picture of life on the "Euphoria" set. Long days turned into all-nighters under showrunner Sam Levinson, with some cast members claiming they worked up to 17 hours straight.

Maude Apatow once reportedly described the experience as an endurance test. "We were trying so hard to stay awake," she said of shooting scenes from dusk till dawn.

Although Nika King is a co-owner of the restaurant, the inspiration she has given some of her fans is still a real-life experience.