Granted, many rising stars are placed under a magnifying glass. Sweeney was followed closely while filming Anyone But You alongside Glen Powell, amid rumours the co-stars were engaging in a real-life affair despite Sweeney\u2019s engagement (now broken) to film producer Jonathan Davino. She faced further scrutiny in 2023 after guests at her mother\u2019s 60th birthday party were photographed wearing MAGA-style hats and \u201cBlue Lives Matter\u201d shirts.<\/p>\n
However, despite the occasional negative headline, Sweeney was able to continue her ascent relatively unimpeded. That is, until the American Eagle ad campaign.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s Sweeney\u2019s American Eagle ad saw a spike in searches for the word \u201ceugenic\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n In July, the actor appeared in a jeans campaign for the US fashion retailer with the tagline \u201cSydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans\u201d. Within days, TikTok was inundated with people calling the campaign a form of Nazi propaganda and accusing it of promoting eugenics<\/a>. (In one of the ads, Sweeney says: \u201cGenes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.\u201d)<\/p>\n Loading<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, far-right online personalities embraced the move, applauding Sweeney for helping \u201cend cancel culture\u201d. The controversy became so inflamed that US President Donald Trump even weighed in, saying Sweeney has the \u201chottest ad out there\u201d.<\/p>\n American Eagle defended the ads, releasing a statement in August that said they were only ever about the jeans. Sweeney, however, remained silent for months. She finally broached the subject this month while promoting Christy.<\/p>\n The backlash didn\u2019t affect her, she told GQ.<\/a> \u201cAt the end of the day, I knew what the ad was for.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI did a jean ad. I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve always believed that I\u2019m not here to tell people what to think \u2026 When I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear.\u201d<\/p>\n Her response attracted ridicule from some, with several people posting on TikTok to mock<\/a> the star for what they deemed a tone-deaf or dismissive reaction to the backlash.<\/p>\n Some celebrities also jumped on the bandwagon, such as Aimee Lou Wood of White Lotus fame, who posted a nausea emoji<\/a> under the GQ video on social media. It was also rumoured that Sweeney\u2019s Euphoria co-star Zendaya had refused to do press alongside her for the series\u2019 upcoming third season, though this has not been confirmed by either actor.<\/p>\n Amid the American Eagle media storm, The Guardian revealed Sweeney had registered as a Republican voter<\/a> in Florida before Trump was elected president for a second time. This seemed to confirm suspicions around Sweeney\u2019s political affiliations, which had come under question since her mother\u2019s birthday party.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n This is in stark contrast to most of Hollywood, which tends to lean left: just look at the many prominent actors who supported Kamala Harris<\/a> in the 2024 US election campaign. Some who have previously been very vocal about their political standing, such as The Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence, have opted to avoid the subject altogether<\/a> since Trump\u2019s re-election, believing their comments won\u2019t make a difference.<\/p>\n Sweeney, though, has historically kept quiet about her politics, but has previously described herself as pro-choice, and has expressed support for LGBTQI+ rights<\/a>.<\/p>\n The hubbub around Sweeney isn\u2019t helped by the fact that she has simply been everywhere lately. Within 11 months, she has starred in four feature films, with one more (The Housemaid) and season three of Euphoria to come.<\/p>\n Those films have not been hits, either. In August, Sweeney\u2019s Western crime-thriller Americana only grossed about US$500,000 across 1100 theatres in the US. That same month, the Ron Howard-directed Eden made just over US$2.4 million globally<\/a> against a budget of about US$55 million, though the movie only had a limited release.<\/p>\n Sydney Sweeney has been booked and busy this year, and she will return as Cassie in Euphoria\u2019s third season next year. <\/span>Credit: <\/span>HBO via AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Earlier this year, Sweeney also starred in the Apple TV drama Echo Valley alongside Julianne Moore, a movie that was critically panned<\/a> for its muddled plot and dissatisfying ending.<\/p>\n Then there are the countless ads, billboards and brand campaigns she has featured in. Sweeney has partnered with Laneige, Miu Miu, Armani Beauty, Kerastase, Heydude, Baskin-Robbins and, of course, American Eagle. One of her most unusual deals involved soap brand Dr. Squatch, which released a soap infused with Sweeney\u2019s actual bathwater<\/a>. This baffled (and disgusted) many who came across it, with some arguing it perpetuated female objectification.<\/p>\n Even her private life has drawn questions from fans, including her decision to date Scooter Braun, the man who went to war with Taylor Swift over her music masters and whom the pop star accused of \u201cmanipulative bullying\u201d<\/a>. One TikToker even went so far as to say the relationship is \u201cbrand poison\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n So, does this spell the end for Sweeney\u2019s rise to peak Hollywood fame? Probably not. There are high hopes for The Housemaid, a film adaptation of Freida McFadden\u2019s best-selling thriller, largely thanks to the book\u2019s popularity. The hugely anticipated third season of Euphoria will land next year, with Sweeney returning to her role as fan-favourite character Cassie.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s not necessarily her acting that\u2019s getting in the way \u2013 she may still receive an Academy Award nod for Christy, and her critically acclaimed performance in the 2023 whistleblower drama Reality<\/a> confirmed she has real talent. Rather, it\u2019s everything else around her. Then again, diamonds are made under pressure, and history has proven you don\u2019t get anywhere in Hollywood without being seen \u2013 a lot.<\/p>\n Must-see movies, interviews and all the latest from the world of film delivered to your inbox. Sign up for our Screening Room newsletter<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe eagle landed \u2013 with a thud<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
A registered Republican<\/h3>\n
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