Sydney Sweeney is clapping back at critics who claim she’s cashing in on an oversexualized image.
The 27-year-old star of Euphoria has quickly risen to prominence as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents, gracing both blockbuster films and television shows while also becoming the face of numerous advertising campaigns.
Over the past year, the founder of Fifty-Fifty Films has featured in promotional efforts for diverse products ranging from Baskin Robbins’ ice cream and Laneige lip balm to the Samsung Galaxy 25 Edge.
Although some fans have criticized her for heavily relying on provocative marketing, Sweeney assures that considerable deliberation is involved in crafting these bold advertisements.
‘I believe it’s crucial to stay attuned to public opinion, as everything is a dialogue with the audience,’ the two-time Emmy nominee explained to The Wall Street Journal concerning managing online critique.
One of her most eyebrow-raising deals came with Dr. Squatch, which sold a limited-edition line of soap infused with her actual bathwater.
Sydney Sweeney is addressing detractors who accuse her of exploiting an overly sexualized image, emphasizing that her provocative ad campaigns are far from coincidence.
The stunt dominated headlines and was torn apart all over social media, but Sweeney double downed on the decision.
‘Notably, it was mostly women commenting on it, which I found very intriguing,’ she mentioned without seeming bothered. ‘They were all fond of the notion of Jacob Elordi’s bathwater.’
When asked if she’s ‘thinking strategically’ while doing these provocative campaigns, the actress answered: ‘Yes. Very.’
The performer declined to speak about her controversial American Eagle’s fall denim campaign, featuring the tagline, ‘Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.’
The ad was outrageously labeled ‘Nazi propaganda’ by some critics and slammed for promoting racial undertones, eugenics and white supremacy.
Sweeney has not publicly addressed the controversy.
During her latest interview, the Sharp Objects alum reflected on how she prefers to take a hands-on approach to everything she signs on for.
‘I definitely have a hard time sitting on set in a chair,’ she admitted. ‘I just want to ask, What’s the budget? What’s our line item? Where can we make things run better?’
In just the past year, the Fifty-Fifty Films founder has done ads for Baskin Robbins’ ice cream and Laneige lip balm to the Samsung Galaxy 25 Edge (seen above in her American Eagle ad)
When pressed on whether she’ll continue to collaborate with ex-fiancé Jonathan Davino behind-the-scenes after their split earlier this year, the star made it clear she wasn’t interested in talking about her heartbreak.
‘I’m going to keep all of my personal stuff out of it,’ she told the magazine.
Sweeney also touched back on her past comments, made in 2022, about not being to afford to pay her publicist, stylist and mortgage if she took six months off.
Looking back, she says her comments were less about money and more about her nonstop work ethic.
‘What I was talking about is more that I didn’t have time to take six months off,’ she explained. ‘I was so busy, and still, same. But I do that because I don’t want to take six months off. I get anxiety thinking about just taking a few days off.’
She added that she always leaves space in her schedule for unexpected offers. ‘But if I wanted to lock everything in, I could probably be booked for the next three or four years.’
And despite her packed calendar, Sweeney insists she wouldn’t have it any other way.
One of her most eyebrow-raising deals came with Dr. Squatch, which sold a limited-edition line of soap infused with her actual bathwater; seen in a Dr. Squatch soap ad
‘Being on set is my happy place,’ she said.
Director Paul Feig, who helmed The Housemaid, backed up her claim, praising her commitment even amid personal upheaval.
‘She loves to work. She was completely present emotionally, just up for anything, and really didn’t bring any issues to set,’ he said. ‘And I know she was going through some things when this was going on—I mean, now everybody knows about her engagement falling apart and breaking off and all that… But she would never bring it to the set. I’d say, “Hey, are you OK?” and she’d go, ‘I’m fine, I’m great!’ but not defensively.’
Over the past two years, her success has dramatically skyrocketed.
According to WSJ, she was reportedly paid $65,000 for the film, Reality in 2023.
A year later, she secured $2 million for her rom-com Anyone But You, alongside Glen Powell.
By the time she signed on to The Housemaid, which comes out on December 25, her asking price had risen to $7.5 million.
