Maddy: Another Stereotypical Latina Character?

Maddie from Euphoria

Warning: Spoilers ahead

As Season 2 of Euphoria comes to an end, we are left with iconic TikTok sounds, all coming from the queen herself, Maddy. There's no denying that Maddy has been one of the stars of this show since it began.

Despite being a deeply flawed character, most people love Maddie from Euphoria. The reasons why are so many: how she dresses, how she carries herself, her makeup, her attitude; everything about the character makes you kinda want to be her. There's no denying that she is a multi-dimensional character. Her last name and instances of her mother speaking to her in Spanish are all we get regarding her ethnicity.


It doesn't seem like they're shying away from her origins; it feels more like not wanting to make her ethnicity all she is, as it is not precisely relevant to the plot and can often do more harm than good when characters fall into stereotypes. With that being said, there are times when audiences have questioned whether she is behaving like the stereotypical Latina character that we've seen in Hollywood for years, you know, "sexy," "spicy," and all that, and these are very valid concerns.

Season 2 Maddy GIF by euphoriaSeason 2 Maddy GIF by euphoriaGiphy

The writer of this show is a white man; after all, there is no way he can see things fully through the Latina lens. However, after this last season, audiences quickly pointed out that Maddy finally feels like a good representation. Maddy is a very multi-dimensional character, while she does things at times that almost feel like they're falling into a stereotype: Like fighting to defend herself, yelling at her boyfriend's mom as revenge and calling her names, etc.; all these actions are justifiable in the context of the show, and don't happen because of her ethnicity, but because it's granted in the story.

Maddy comes off as this very independent, strong girl from the get-go, but we are quick to see that she can be vulnerable, especially in this last season. And why is that different from what we often see in Latina characters? Most of the time, Latinx characters are portrayed as aggressive bullies that should be feared; their feelings can't be hurt because they're quick to defend themselves with violence or screaming. This stereotype is harmful for many reasons, but we see a little more character depth in Maddy even when she is doing those things.

This last season, we saw a lot of drama unfold between Maddy (portrayed by Alexa Demie) and Cassie (portrayed by Sydney Sweeney), who had been her best friend up to that point. To anyone watching this show, in the beginning, Cassie will seem like this sweet, harmless girl, and Maddie will come off as a stronger, more aggressive character, but we quickly see that isn't true.

Cassie, Maddie, and Kat from EuphoriaAngry Sydney Sweeney GIF by euphoriaGiphy

As the plot thickens and we see all that Cassie sleeping with Nate (Maddy's ex-boyfriend) drama unfold, we can see that Maddy is hurt by Cassie's actions because she betrayed her trust. As she says to Cassie, "I would have never done this to you," we see that Maddy's hurt comes from the fact that her best friend would be willing to give up their friendship just like that. A lot more happens after that; if you've seen it by now, you know that the rest continues to show a girl whose deep-set loyalty has led her to become deeply hurt. But she is also not weak and will stand up for herself when she has to, with brutal honesty and a strong attitude.


Cassie and Maddie from Euphoria Best Friends Walking GIF by euphoriaGiphy

She is handed very heavy cards throughout her life, and one of the main plot points in the show is the abusive relationship between her and her now ex-boyfriend Nate (portrayed by Jacob Elordi). She is always loving and supportive (far from the crazy Latina girlfriend character), yet Nate seems to see her as this "trophy" to possess.

In these last seasons, Nate has this dream sequence fantasy, where he sees Maddy only in sexual situations but can see Cassie in more stable situations, like getting married, having a baby, etc. At this point, it's clear that Nate sees Maddy as this fantasy and Cassie as the ideal woman; this becomes an interesting example of the fetishization that Latinas often suffer at the hands of white men.

Maddie from EuphoriaSeason 2 Hbo GIF by euphoriaGiphy

Throughout the show, Maddy shows that the sweet, kind, loyal character had been her all along, not the white girl. Even Cassie's sister, Lexie, seems to think of Maddy as a kinder person who she is more fond of than her own sister. In the second-to-last episode of the show, during Lexie's play, we see Maddy as the friend that was always there for everyone and Cassie as the person that has really only ever cared about herself. The whole character plot leaves us with an exciting turn of events, but ultimately many have felt Maddy is finally a decent representation.

Why is it important? Because for once, Latinas can portray themselves as a character that is a nuanced representation of real life. She isn't the villain and she isn't just an object for sexualization. She isn't less than the rest of the characters. The Latina character of the show is finally multi-dimensional enough to be a lot of things at once, but the core of her character is a caring person. And also, the Latina girl being the Queen Bee-popular-dating the jock character instead of the blond white girl is, to put it simply, awesome.

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).