- - Sydney Sweeney Clarifies Political Views After Backlash from American Eagle Ad

Jane LaCroixJanuary 29, 2026 at 10:22 PM

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Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

Sydney Sweeney is addressing the labels that followed her after last summer’s controversial American Eagle campaign—and making it clear it was never about politics.

The actress found herself at the center of online backlash after appearing in the stores’ “Great Jeans” ad, which sparked a lot of conversation on the internet. The comments intensified when it later became public that Sweeney has been registered as a Republican since June 2024, leading to the nickname “MAGA Barbie” circulating online—despite her never publicly discussing her political beliefs.

In a new interview with Cosmopolitan shared on Thursday, January 29, Sweeney shut down the characterization. “I’ve never been here to talk about politics,” she said. “I’ve always been here to make art, so this is just not a conversation I want to be at the forefront of.”

READ MORE: Iconic Singer Stands Up For Sydney Sweeney’s New Film Amid Controversy

She explained that staying quiet has sometimes made the situation worse, not better. “And I think because of that, people want to take it even further and use me as their own pawn,” she added. “But it’s somebody else assigning something to me, and I can’t control that.”

The 28-year-old said navigating the fallout has felt like a no-win situation. “If I say, ‘That’s not true,’ they’ll come at me like, ‘You’re just saying that to look better,’” she explained, adding, “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.”

Sweeney emphasized that politics have never been part of her career goals. “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.” She also made it clear where she does stand. “I don’t believe in hate in any form,” she said. “I believe we should all love each other and have respect and understanding for one another.”

Amid the ongoing attention around her public image, Sweeney is turning her focus to her new lingerie line, SYRN—a collection centered on self-expression and femininity. According to the company's website, the product comes straight from her “heart, brain, and boobs,” and now, “it’s all yours.” The collection is available now.

This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”