Sydney Sweeney recently faced backlash over her advertisement with American Eagle, titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.” This is not the first time the actress has been embroiled in controversy. In 2022, she received criticism for her mom’s surprise 60th birthday party, where guests wore “Make Sixty Great Again” hats.
Additionally, Sweeney was involved in rumors of an affair with her co-star Glen Powell during the filming of “Anyone But You.” Both parties denied the allegations. Despite these incidents, branding expert Eric Schiffer describes Sweeney as having a strong personal brand that shields her from cancel culture.
Doug Eldridge, a crisis communications expert, attributes Sweeney’s ability to navigate controversy to her loyal fanbase, the changing cultural landscape, and the nature of the controversies themselves. Eldridge praises Sweeney’s marketability and predicts a successful career trajectory for the actress.
The recent American Eagle campaign featuring Sweeney received mixed reactions, with some calling it tone-deaf due to perceived racial undertones. Fans expressed disappointment with the ad, while others defended it as harmless marketing. In response to the backlash, American Eagle clarified that the campaign was solely about celebrating Sweeney and her jeans.
Sweeney has faced criticism in the past, including accusations related to her mother’s birthday party. She has been vocal about addressing misunderstandings and continues to navigate the entertainment industry with resilience. An innocent celebration for my mother’s milestone 60th birthday has now become an unusual political statement.”
In photos posted by her brother, guests at the party were seen sporting hats that seemed to be inspired by President Donald Trump’s MAGA – “Make America Great Again” – slogan.
The hats, which are frequently replicated, were not meant to spark such controversy, according to Sweeney, who mentioned that it “was not the intention,” and asked to “please stop making assumptions.”
In one picture, a male guest was captured wearing a “Blue Lives Matter” shirt, standing next to Sweeney’s mother and grandmother as they surrounded the cake.
The actress’s mother received a surprise hoedown in 2022, where all attendees were dressed in cowboy attire. Sweeney organized the event, which featured a mechanical bull ride and dancing.
One year later, Sweeney found herself in headlines once again when she and her co-star Glen Powell ignited romance rumors during the premiere of their film, “Anyone But You,” in 2023.
In 2024, Sweeney hosted “Saturday Night Live” and addressed the alleged affair with Powell.
“The craziest rumor I’ve heard is that while I was filming ‘Anyone But You’ I was having an affair with my co-star Glen Powell. That’s obviously not true,” she assured the amused audience of her romantic-comedy. “My fiancé and I produced the movie together, and he was there for the entire shoot.”
“I just want to make it clear that he’s the man of my dreams, and we’re still together and stronger than ever. He even came here tonight to support me,” she declared, asking the “SNL” cameras to focus on her then-fiancé.
The camera then showed a “clueless” Powell, who appeared displeased upon realizing he was on television, much to the audience’s delight.
“That’s not my fiancé, he’s in my dressing room,” Sweeney quipped.
When rumors of romance began circulating, Sweeney was engaged to Jonathan Davino. The couple ended their engagement in March. Powell was engaged to Gigi Paris but split in 2023 amidst speculation of a relationship with Sweeney.
Fox News Digital’s Tracy Wright contributed to this report.
Janelle Ash is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to janelle.ash@fox.com. In a recent development, a new study has found that eating chocolate may have some unexpected benefits for our health. The study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, suggests that consuming chocolate may improve brain function in older adults.
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 1,000 people aged 23 to 98 and found that those who ate chocolate at least once a week performed better on cognitive tasks compared to those who rarely or never ate chocolate. The study also found that participants who ate chocolate regularly had lower levels of insulin resistance, a risk factor for conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
While these findings are intriguing, researchers caution that more studies are needed to confirm the results and understand the mechanisms behind chocolate’s potential cognitive benefits. In the meantime, it certainly can’t hurt to indulge in a little chocolate now and then – in moderation, of course.
So, next time you reach for a sweet treat, know that you may be doing more for your health than just satisfying your sweet tooth.
