Sydney Sweeney's Top Controversies, From MAGA Hat Backlash To American Eagle Ad Stir And More

Sydney Sweeney may be known for her roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus, but presently, she is in the spotlight for a different reason. It all started when the actress collaborated with American Eagle to become the face for their new ad campaign. However, a project that was supposed to create a likability for the brand's jeans and improve Sydney's career graph has rather invited a wave of backlash after people felt it had a racial undertone. But this is not the first time the actress stirred the internet for some reason other than her work. Here is a list of some of her popular controversies, which started a new debate in Hollywood. 

#1.The MAGA hat birthday party 

Back in 2022, Sydney Sweeney organised a surprise birthday party for her mom, Lisa's 60th birthday. Everything seemed good, and the pictures from the celebration surfaced on the internet. But rather than appreciating the moment, netizens noticed that the guests at the party wore red MAGA-style hats that read, "Make Sixty Great Again" with a thin blue line flag in the background, infuriating viewers. They saw it as a promotion for the right-wing. Sydney asked everyone via X to stop "making speculations" from an "innocent moment", but it didn't stop the criticism. Much later, she addressed the issue in an interview with GQ and said:

"Honestly, I feel like nothing I say can help the conversation. It's been turning into a wildfire, and nothing I can say will take it back to the correct track."

2. The bathwater soap bar controversy 

Indeed, the above-mentioned weird title is correct. Sydney Sweeney collaborated with Dr. Squatch, a men's personal care brand, to allegedly make a new soap bar line with the actress. But what drew reactions from people was the brand's idea to include a small amount of Sydney Sweeney's bathwater in it. Although the new collaboration was meant to be quirky, it left the internet divided. Some fans found it amusing and unique, while others were disgusted by the hygiene part. Unsurprisingly, the soap sold out quickly and even ended up on eBay at increased rates.

3. Pay gap comments stir debate

Sydney Sweeney, who has never shied away from addressing issues head-on on had claimed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2022 that she could not afford to take long breaks. She explained that if she simply focused on acting, she wouldn't be able to manage the expenses of living in LA and pointed out that the fees paid to actors had decreased from before. Plus, unlike big actors, she had to pay her lawyer, publicist, business manager, and agents, which had a higher cost total than her mortgage. However, around the same time, she bought a 3 million USD home in LA at 24. It drew a variety of responses from netizens. Some agreed that the cost of living had increased, while others called her out of touch from real struggle. 

4. The 'Great Jeans' ad landed wrong 

American Eagle made a big business and marketing move to create a bold and flirty denim ad with Sydney Sweeney where they claimed, "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring." Before the camera went to focus on her body, she says that "my body's composition is determined by my genes" Later, the brand kept the tagline, "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans."However, the pun intended wordplay of 'jeans' and 'genes' quickly drew criticism. Some accused it of hinting at the idea of American genetic superiority, especially because it was paired with the visual of a vintage Mustang, denim, and blonde girl aesthetics. Critics also slammed the actress and the brand for their poor brand messaging.

5. Sydney Sweeney got a shoutout from President, Donald Trump 

If the ad itself wasn't enough, things became serious after Donald Trump publicly praised Sydney in an interview on Sunday when he discovered that she is a registered Republican voter in Florida. He extended his support to her in the ad controversy and commented, "If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic!" Although the actress has not given any response to it, the political angle has reignited debates about whether it is necessary for actors to present a clear stance on their  political views or not.

What do you think about Sydney Sweeney's new controversial American Eagle ad? Let us know.

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