Sydney Sweeney is speaking out amid a wave of online controversy over her recent American Eagle Outfitters campaign, rejecting the nickname “MAGA Barbie” that has been attached to her in some corners of social media.
The 28-year-old actress, best known for her role in Euphoria, addressed the backlash in a candid interview with Cosmopolitan published Thursday. The controversy stems from Sweeney’s appearance in the brand’s “Great Jeans” ad, which launched in July 2025 and was criticized by some as allegedly promoting “Nazi propaganda” due to its emphasis on her blonde hair and blue eyes.
“I’ve never been here to talk about politics,” Sweeney told the magazine. “I’ve always been here to make art, so this is just not a conversation I want to be at the forefront of.”
The actress, who has been registered as a Republican since June 2024, explained that much of the criticism stems from others projecting political motives onto her. “I think because of that, people want to take it even further and use me as their own pawn,” she said. “But it’s somebody else assigning something to me, and I can’t control that.”
Sweeney emphasized that she is “not a hateful person” and acknowledged the difficulty of navigating politically charged accusations. “If I say, ‘That’s not true,’ they’ll come at me like, ‘You’re just saying that to look better,’” she said. “I just have to continue being who I am, because I know who I am. I can’t make everyone love me. I know what I stand for.”
The actress made it clear that politics is not a focus of her public life. “I’m in the arts. I’m not here to speak on politics,” she said. “That’s not an area I’ve ever even imagined getting into. It’s not why I became who I am. 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.”
Sweeney also reflected on the toll the online scrutiny has taken. “It’s definitely not a comfortable thing to have people saying what you believe or think, especially when that doesn’t align with you,” she said. “It’s been a weird thing having to navigate and digest, because it’s not me.”
Last month, Sweeney directly addressed the American Eagle ad in an interview with People, acknowledging that her initial silence may have contributed to misunderstandings. “Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together. I’m against hate and divisiveness,” she said. “In the past, my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press, but recently I have come to realize that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it.”
She also expressed surprise at the reaction to the campaign. “I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand. I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign,” Sweeney said. “Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true.”
With the ongoing online debate, Sweeney’s statements underscore her desire to focus on her craft and advocate for unity rather than engaging in political discourse.