Sydney Sweeney has sparked plenty of conversation on social media after doubling down on her stance about not talking politics.
The Euphoria actor was recently asked by Cosmopolitan whether there was a future in which people will get to see what her political beliefs are, to which Sydney responded: “No.”
“I’m not a political person,” she elaborated. “I’m in the arts. I’m not here to speak on politics. That’s not an area I’ve ever even imagined getting into. It’s not why I became who I am.”
Sydney continued: “I became an actor because I like to tell stories, but I don’t believe in hate in any form.
“I believe we should all love each other and have respect and understanding for one another.”
These comments are the latest development stemming from Sydney’s controversial American Eagle ad campaign, which was celebrated by Donald Trump, and riffed on a “great jeans/great genes” double entendre.
At the time, critics pointed out that its centring of a blonde, white woman along with language that could be seen to mirror that of white supremacists and eugenicists was “tone deaf”, with many also calling the ad irresponsible in the current political climate.
For months, Sydney avoided addressing the fall-out from the ad or clarifying her political stance, before admitting her silence on the issue had potentially “widened the divide” back in December when she insisted she was “against hate”.
In her new interview, the White Lotus star explained that she wants to dispel the narrative that she’s a “hateful person”, and claimed that she has “always led with love”.
“I can’t make everyone love me. I know what I stand for,” she insisted.
When asked specifically about the “MAGA Barbie” nickname levelled against her, which originated from Trump’s support of her campaign – and her silence on many political issues – Sydney added: “I’ve never been here to talk about politics […] This is just not a conversation I want to be at the forefront of.”
Trump previously spoke out in support of Sydney and her American Eagle ad following reports that she was registered as a Republican in the lead-up to the 2024 election in the US.
And while some have defended Sydney’s stance, insisting “some people just aren’t meant to speak on the political field”, many people have other ideas about her holding firm on her decision not to be political.
One common theme is people challenging her comment that art isn’t political and asserting that it is a privileged response to hold.
Meanwhile, Sydney recently claimed that “everybody on social media is insane” while debunking rumours about her appearance.