There has been no avoiding Sydney Sweeney since she broke into the Hollywood scene following her breakout role in Euphoria. The 28-year-old actress makes new headlines every week, which, as of recently, have been sprinkled with controversy. As the cover star for GQ Men's Issue of the Year, she addressed some of the narratives surrounding her life, leaving the public divided.
GQ announced Sweeney as their cover star on Instagram, describing her recent shift in the public eye. "In the summer of 2025, she became something else too: a market-and-politics-moving force of culture that Americans shouted past each other about. Throughout, she stayed mostly quiet," they explained.
In the interview, Sweeney addressed the controversy surrounding her American Eagle jeans ad, which went viral after people accused it of promoting racist undertones and hidden eugenics.
When asked if she was surprised by the reaction, the Echo Valley star responded, "I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans." "All I wear are jeans. I’m literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life."
Following the controversy, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to write, "Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there. Go get 'em Sydney!" Sweeney called his and JD Vance's words of support "surreal."
But Sweeney said she wasn't thinking of any of it, "I kind of just put my phone away," she explained. "I was filming every day. I’m filming Euphoria, so I’m working 16-hour days, and I don’t really bring my phone on set, so I work and then I go home and I go to sleep. So I didn’t really see a lot of it," the Christy star continued.
Trump's support came with more public outcry, with people upset to learn she was a registered republican. Sweeney was also asked about how it felt to be swept up in politics. "I’ve always believed that I’m not here to tell people what to think. I’m just here to kind of open their eyes to different ideas," she shared.
"That’s why I gravitate towards characters and stories that are complicated and are maybe morally questionable, and characters that are—on the page—hard to like, but then you find the humanity underneath them," she continued.
GQ has been sharing clips on Instagram, and the comment section has offered a look into how the public is responding to the interview.
"Art is inherently political, babe," "Art is commentary. Everything is political," "this is so awkward, empty and uninteresting" and "An opportunity to say: 'I Stand with women' 'I Stand with humanity' 'I believe in love and equal rights' But instead, eye rolling and disinterest," are among some of the top liked comments.