When #AlexaDemie was auditioning for the role of Maddy, HBO executives wanted the character to be a white, blonde girl to fit their idea of a typical cheerleader.⁠ ⁠ Creator #SamLevinson says: "I remember pulling her aside and giving her some tips. I think she was wearing something red, and I knew that the execs would immediately think, oh she’s too Latin. So I told her, don’t wear anything red, to soften up what I knew would be their initial perception."⁠ ⁠ During the callback, the network had her read from a now-infamous scene in episode 104, which takes place entirely at the local carnival. Nate’s family just won the chili cook-off, shortly after he chastises Maddy for wearing a revealing outfit when his (white) parents are already skeptical of her values; Maddy responds by calling her boyfriend's mother a cunt and then tipping over the winning vat of chili. "They couldn’t have picked a better scene. I was in my fire. The last line is like, 'I know none of you like me and I'm not su...