What was meant to be a glamorous movie premiere turned into yet another storm of controversy for Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney.
The 27-year-old actress, who’s already under fire for her recent American Eagle commercial, faced sharp online criticism for her red carpet outfit—and once again, her fashion choices became political fodder.
A Controversial Commercial Turns Political
Sweeney has been in the spotlight recently, not just for her acting, but for a much-discussed American Eagle campaign.
The ad, which attempted a tongue-in-cheek play on genetics and jeans, ended up stirring serious backlash.
The line in question? “Genes are passed down… My jeans are blue.”
Critics slammed the ad as bizarre and even accused it of hinting at eugenics, leading to a firestorm of commentary online.
Even more eyebrow-raising: former President Donald Trump publicly praised Sweeney, calling her his “anti-woke queen.” That only fueled the fire.
Red Carpet Fashion Misses the Mark
At the Hollywood premiere of her new film Americana, Sweeney wore a custom-made bustier gown with a voluminous tulle skirt designed by bridalwear expert Danielle Frankel.
It should have been a hit, but fans zeroed in on one unexpected accessory: a pale yellow $18 Bahay Kubo headband.
Styled by Molly Dickson, the look didn’t land well with fashion critics or fans online.
One Instagram commenter mocked her American Eagle slogan, joking, “Who’s responsible for her bad fashion genes?” Others took aim at the headband, questioning its purpose and calling for a stylist change altogether.
Hair and Makeup Tried to Save the Day
While the outfit divided fans, her glam team delivered.
Hairstylist Glen Oropeza styled Sweeney’s brown waves with added extensions, and makeup artist Melissa Hernandez highlighted her signature blue eyes with soft mascara and brushed brows.
But even her beauty look couldn’t deflect from the heckling she received in person.
According to TMZ, a woman shouted insults at Sweeney as she arrived at the screening.
American Eagle Attempts Damage Control
As the backlash grew louder, American Eagle CEO Jay Schottenstein stepped in.
In a statement last Friday, he insisted the ad was simply about denim and had nothing to do with politics or genetics.
“Great jeans look good on everyone,” he emphasized.
Despite his reassurance, the denim giant saw a noticeable dip in its stock price last week.
Still, insiders told TMZ that polls show around 70% of viewers actually liked the commercial. The company also pledged that all proceeds from
“The Sydney Jean”—featuring a butterfly patch for domestic violence awareness—would go toward Crisis Text Line, a mental health nonprofit.
Americana Finally Hits Theaters After Years of Delay
Sweeney stars as Penny Jo Poplin, a small-town South Dakota waitress dreaming of country music stardom, in Americana, a modern western set for release on August 15 in the US and August 22 in the UK.
Though it’s finally reaching theaters now, the film originally premiered at South by Southwest two years ago and wrapped filming back in 2022.
The cast includes Halsey, Paul Walter Hauser, Eric Dane, and Simon Rex, with Tony Tost directing.
Halsey Turns Heads at the Premiere
Pop star Halsey, who plays Mandy Starr in the film, also made a splash at the premiere.
She wore a bold white corseted turtleneck, sparkling blue jeans, and lace heels—outfitted by stylist Lyn Alyson.
She joined Sweeney, Simon Rex, and Tost on the black carpet.
Big Screen, Big Roles, and Bigger Expectations
Sweeney’s schedule is packed. Next up, she stars in Eden, a survival thriller from Ron Howard where she plays real-life German settler Margret Wittmer.
The movie—featuring Jude Law, Ana de Armas, and Daniel Brühl—lands in US theaters August 22.
She also just wrapped filming a biopic on boxer Christy Martin, calling it “one of the most emotional, transformative experiences” of her life.
Sweeney’s Growing Influence On and Off Screen
Beyond acting, Sydney is producing and starring in several upcoming projects: Scandalous!, a romance film directed by her Euphoria co-star Colman Domingo; I Pretended to Be a Missing Girl, a thriller for Warner Bros.; and Split Fiction, a sci-fi flick from Jon M. Chu for Amazon MGM.
She’s also producing OutRun, Michael Bay’s adaptation of the classic video game, for Universal.
Back to Euphoria With a Star-Studded Season 3
Of course, fans will also see her return as Cassie Howard in HBO’s hit series Euphoria.
The third season promises new additions like Sharon Stone, singer Rosalía, NFL star Marshawn Lynch, and actor Kadeem Hardison.
Influencer, Actress, and Headline Magnet
With 26.1 million social media followers, brand deals from Samsung to skincare giant Laneige, and a constant presence in both Hollywood and fashion circles, Sydney Sweeney is clearly one of the most in-demand celebrities of the moment.
But as this week proves, with high visibility comes high scrutiny—and every red carpet look, ad campaign, or stylistic choice is up for public debate.