Sydney Sweeney says she has no interest in being pulled into political debates \u2014 and she\u2019s making it clear that<\/b>
\nSydney Sweeney says she has no interest in being pulled into political debates \u2014 and she\u2019s making it clear that the nickname \u201cMAGA Barbie\u201d is not one she embraces.
According to Page Six, the 28-year-old actress addressed the firestorm surrounding her public image in a new interview with Cosmopolitan, published Thursday, months after her American Eagle Outfitters \u201cGreat Jeans\u201d campaign ignited online backlash.
Critics accused the ad of promoting extremist undertones, pointing to its focus on her blond hair and blue eyes and branding it \u201cNazi propaganda.\u201d
As the controversy grew, Sweeney also came under scrutiny after it was revealed she has been registered as a Republican since June 2024, despite never publicly sharing her political views.
Asked directly about being labeled \u201cMAGA Barbie,\u201d Sweeney made her stance clear.
\u201cI\u2019ve never been here to talk about politics,\u201d she told the magazine. \u201cI\u2019ve always been here to make art, so this is just not a conversation I want to be at the forefront of.\u201d
She said remaining silent has only invited others to project their own narratives onto her.
\u201cAnd I think because of that, people want to take it even further and use me as their own pawn,\u201d she continued. \u201cBut it\u2019s somebody else assigning something to me, and I can\u2019t control that.\u201d
Sweeney stressed that she does not harbor hate and feels trapped in a no-win situation when it comes to public perception.
\u201cIf I say, \u2018That\u2019s not true,\u2019 they\u2019ll come at me like, \u2018You\u2019re just saying that to look better,\u2019\u201d she explained.
\u201cI just have to continue being who I am, because I know who I am,\u201d she added. \u201cI can\u2019t make everyone love me. I know what I stand for.\u201d
The actress emphasized that politics were never part of her career goals.
\u201cI\u2019m in the arts. I\u2019m not here to speak on politics,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s not an area I\u2019ve ever even imagined getting into. It\u2019s not why I became who I am.\u201d
\u201cI became an actor because I like to tell stories, but I don\u2019t believe in hate in any form,\u201d Sweeney added. \u201cI believe we should all love each other and have respect and understanding for one another.\u201d
She also admitted the backlash has taken a personal toll, prompting her to step back from social media commentary.
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely not a comfortable thing to have people saying what you believe or think, especially when that doesn\u2019t align with you,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a weird thing having to navigate and digest, because it\u2019s not me.\u201d
Last month, Sweeney acknowledged that staying quiet after the ad controversy may have been a mistake.
\u201cAnyone who knows me knows that I\u2019m always trying to bring people together. I\u2019m against hate and divisiveness,\u201d she told PEOPLE. \u201cMy silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it.\u201d
She said she was \u201csurprised\u201d by the reaction to the campaign.
\u201cI did it because I love the jeans and love the brand,\u201d Sweeney said. \u201cI don\u2019t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign\u2026 Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren\u2019t true.\u201d
\tIJR, Contributor Writer<\/p>\n