Sydney Sweeney finds herself at the center of a political firestorm as a 2019 video of her skillfully handling firearms at a shooting range has gone viral, adding fuel to ongoing controversies about her political affiliations.
According to the New York Post, the "Euphoria" star has been registered with the Republican Party of Florida in Monroe County since June 2024, a revelation that came amid backlash over her recent American Eagle advertisement.
The resurfaced footage shows the 27-year-old actress rapidly taking out multiple targets with impressive precision, barely flinching as the recoil ripples through her arms during what was reportedly preparation for an unspecified movie role.
American Eagle Advertisement Sparks Initial Controversy
The controversy began with Sweeney's American Eagle campaign that emphasized her "good jeans" while prominently featuring her physique, which critics claimed contained problematic undertones.
Social justice advocates online took issue with the advertisement's perceived messaging, suggesting it contained eugenics undertones by playing on the word "genes" while focusing heavily on Sweeney's appearance rather than the product itself.
Following the backlash, American Eagle defended the campaign but ultimately removed the video from their social media platforms, stating: "'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' is and always was about the jeans. Her Jeans. Her Story."
Presidential Support Follows Political Registration Revelation
The discovery of Sweeney's Republican Party registration has drawn support from prominent political figures, including direct praise from President Trump.
Upon learning of Sweeney's political affiliation, Trump immediately called her advertisement "fantastic" and later elaborated on his social media platform TruthSocial, declaring that Sweeney's American Eagle campaign was the "HOTTEST" ad available.
In the same post, Trump contrasted Sweeney with Taylor Swift, whom he criticized following her endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, claiming Swift was "NO LONGER HOT" and that "being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be."
Public Appearances and Continued Controversy
Sweeney made her first public appearance since the controversy erupted at a screening of her upcoming film "Americana," where she encountered direct confrontation from critics.
During the event, the actress was reportedly heckled by an attendee who shouted that she should "Stop the ad, that is being racist!" according to TMZ, though Sweeney did not respond to the provocation and quickly left the scene.
The incident highlights the increasingly hostile environment Sweeney faces as she navigates both her professional obligations and the unexpected political spotlight she now occupies.
Entertainment Industry's Political Divisions Magnified
The Sweeney controversy illuminates the growing political polarization within Hollywood and the entertainment industry at large.
As celebrities' political affiliations become public knowledge, their commercial endeavors increasingly face scrutiny through ideological lenses, transforming ordinary advertisements into battlegrounds for broader cultural debates.
Sweeney has yet to publicly address either the advertisement controversy or questions about her political registration, maintaining silence even as the discourse around her intensifies on social media platforms.
