Sydney Sweeney Won't Comment on Controversial Pics of Mom's Birthday: 'It's Been a Wildfire'

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Sydney Sweeneyis getting candid about the online criticism she experienced over photos from a summer family function, explaining that she’s given up trying to explain herself to detractors.

The scene-stealingEuphoriaandThe White Lotusstar opened up about the negativity sent her way after pics from her mother’s 60th birthday party in August showed guests wearing parody MAGA hats and “Blue Lives Matter' T-shirts.

“Honestly I feel like nothing I say can help the conversation,” Sweeney toldBritish GQfor the magazine’s “Men of the Year” cover. “It’s been turning into a wildfire and nothing I can say will take it back to the correct track.”

“I don’t think there’s any winning,” Sweeney toldBritish GQ, citing some complaints she hears from trolls. “I’ll see people say, ‘She needs to get media training’. Why, do you want to see a robot?”

Frazer Harrison/Getty

Sweeney, 25, admitted she also often feels misunderstood offline, too.

She toldBritish GQshe feels caught between two worlds, especially when she returns to her hometown of Spokane County, Washington, where many of her family and childhood friends still live. Her father “lives on a ranch outside of the U.S. without phone service” and “has never seenEuphoria or much of what she’s done,” notes writer Olivia Pym.

“When I go home my family doesn’t understand me or the world I’m in anymore,” Sweeney said. “But then in this industry, my home and the place that grounds me is so vastly different to how people live there. I’m in this in-between place where I feel like neither side understands me.”

This isn’t the first time Sweeney has spoken out about the backlash her mom’s surprise hoedown-themed bash caused.

“You guys this is wild,” she tweeted back in August, as criticism grew. “An innocent celebration for my mom’s milestone 60th birthday has turned into an absurd political statement, which was not the intention.”

“Please stop making assumptions,” Sweeney added. “Much love to everyone and Happy Birthday Mom!”

Others came to her defense. “My dad voted for Trump (twice) and I still love him lmao, just because your family thinks one way doesn’t mean you all have to think the same,” another fantweeted.

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Even so, Sweeney’s star is on the rise. She’s filmingMadame WeboppositeDakota Johnson,Emma RobertsandAdam Scott. She’s also set to appear inNational AnthemfeaturingSimon RexandEric Dane.

Eerlier this year, shereceived two Emmy Award nominationsfor her performances onEuphoriaandThe White Lotus.

“I wasn’t really expecting this,” Sweeney told PEOPLE nominations day. “When I fell in love with acting, and when I fall in love with my characters, I don’t really think about the whole award aspect of it. I think there are so many incredible actors that I was rooting for, so I wasn’t ready.”

source: people.com