‘Tell Me Lies’ Alicia Crowder Explains Why Diana Deleted Stephen’s Photos In Season 2, Episode 4

From outrageously sexy scenes and a soundtrack that slaps to powerful performances and explorations of serious issues, there are many reasons to watch Meaghan Oppenheimer’s addicting Hulu drama Tell Me Lies. Two seasons in, however, something that undoubtedly keeps me returning week after week is the hope that one day Stephen (Jackson White) will finally get his comeuppance for the seemingly endless chaos he’s caused.

In Season 2, Episode 3, a fed-up Lucy (Grace Van Patten) told Diana (Alicia Crowder) that Stephen was sleeping with Macy the summer before she started school and the two were hooking up together at a house party during Welcome Week. Not only that, but Grace revealed that Stephen was in the car with Macy the night she died and rather than doing anything to help her, he fled the scene.

Since Diana is a serious aspiring lawyer who historically takes no shit, it seemed like she was in the perfect position to expose Stephen’s connection to Macy’s death. But in Season 2, Episode 4, “Just Stable Children,” when Diana looked through Stephen’s laptop and found old photos of Macy, confirming there was truth to Lucy’s story (post x-ray debacle!), rather than build a case against him, she deleted the photos in a twist that had me screaming “NOOOO!” at my TV screen.

Wondering why the heck Diana deleted crucial evidence that would help take down Stephen? Decider asked Tell Me Lies star Alicia Crowder and showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer to unpack Diana’s agonizing decision.

“I think it was really in order to protect herself. Everyone knows that Stephen and I have been dating for a long time. Whatever trouble he’s in, I’m kind of guilty by association. And I think it was just a really ugly way of covering her tracks,” Crowder, who plays Diana, told Decider over Zoom. “[It’s] so ironic also, because she’s studying to become a lawyer, which is all about justice and fairness. And this is just a moment of being extremely scared and letting that take over and [making] the ugliest decision.”

Crowder went on to explain that deleting the photos gave Diana “a clean slate,” which is ultimately what she feels she needs to go on and achieve her full potential. “She was like, ‘I’ve got to get rid of this. It never happened.’ And she was, I think, very afraid of the reality, too. And getting rid of it was kind of like, ‘OK, this isn’t true’ in a way.”

Tell Me Lies showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer echoed Crowder’s interpretation of Diana’s shocking actions, telling Decider, “I think that Diana is a survivor at her core, and I think she is always going to protect herself. I think she sees that and she wants that evidence gone. I think she chooses to protect Stephen and protect herself in that moment.”

With half the season remaining, Diana being well aware of Stephen’s connection to Macy’s murder, and his behavior worsening by the episode, fans have to ask themselves how long Diana will continue protecting him.

After all, we know Stephen and Diana aren’t endgame…

Tune in to find out what goes down between Diana, Stephen, and the rest of Tell Me Lies’ Season 2 characters, and be sure to check out the rest of Decider’s in-depth Tell Me Lies coverage here.

New episodes of Tell Me Lies Season 2 premiere Wednesday on Hulu.