Actress Sydney Sweeney has firmly pushed back against being categorised as a 'MAGA Barbie' in a revealing new interview with Cosmopolitan magazine. This comes several months after her American Eagle advertising campaign unexpectedly transformed her into a focal point for intense political debate and social media scrutiny.
The Controversial Campaign That Sparked a Firestorm
Last summer, Sweeney featured in a widely shared promotional video for American Eagle's jeans line. The advertisement quickly went viral, but not for the reasons the brand might have hoped. It triggered a significant social media backlash, with numerous critics drawing parallels to 'Nazi propaganda.' This reaction was largely due to the ad's playful use of the phrase 'good genes,' featuring the blonde-haired, blue-eyed star, which some interpreted as promoting problematic ideals.
Political Fallout and Public Perception
In the aftermath of the uproar, reports surfaced indicating that Sweeney was a registered Republican. This revelation prompted a wave of criticism from left-leaning supporters, while simultaneously attracting praise from figures like former U.S. President Donald Trump, who quipped, 'Now I love her ad.' The situation escalated further in December when a talk-show appearance, featuring a makeover that gave her a notable resemblance to a classic Fox News presenter, drew additional mockery and commentary.
A New Chapter: Launching SYRN Lingerie
Amidst this ongoing public discourse, Sweeney has now embarked on a fresh professional venture by introducing her own lingerie brand, SYRN. She has been actively promoting the line with a series of striking new photoshoots. For the cover of Cosmopolitan, she showcased her famous figure in a bubblegum pink, lace-trimmed bra, marking a bold new step in her career.
Addressing the Political Pigeonholing
Within the pages of the magazine, Sweeney candidly shared her perspective on how the public has politically characterised her. 'I’ve never been here to talk about politics,' she insisted. 'I’ve always been here to make art, so this is just not a conversation I want to be at the forefront of.'
She expressed frustration at being used as a symbolic figure in broader cultural debates. 'And I think because of that, people want to take it even further and use me as their own pawn,' said the actress, who has been labelled by some as a refreshing counter to political correctness and by others as a harmful right-wing icon.
Sweeney clarified that the partisan descriptions attached to her are 'somebody else assigning something to me, and I can’t control that.' She added, 'It’s definitely not a comfortable thing to have people saying what you believe or think, especially when that doesn’t align with you.'
Navigating Public Scrutiny and Misrepresentation
The actress described the experience as disorienting and challenging. 'It’s been a weird thing having to navigate and digest, because it’s not me. None of it is me. And I’m having to watch it happen,' she explained. To protect her mental wellbeing, she is consciously stepping back from the online chatter. 'I’m online and I see things, but I’m slowly pulling myself away. It’s definitely gone to a level where it’s just not healthy for me to digest it all.'
In a direct rebuttal to certain perceptions, Sweeney decried the idea that 'I’m a hateful person.' She specifically noted her support for abortion rights, arguing unequivocally that 'a woman has the right to decide,' thereby challenging some of the assumptions made about her political leanings based on superficial labels.
