Actress Sydney Sweeney has directly addressed the online moniker "Maga Barbie" that was assigned to her following a controversial advertising campaign, firmly stating that she has "never been here to talk about politics" and prefers to keep conversations centred on her artistic work.
The Controversial Campaign That Sparked Political Speculation
The 28-year-old Euphoria star became the subject of intense political scrutiny last year when she fronted American Eagle's "Great Jeans" campaign. The advertisement drew criticism for its wordplay using "jeans" as a potential reference to "genes," with some interpreting this as an allusion to the discredited theory of eugenics.
American Eagle has consistently maintained that the campaign solely referred to their denim products, but the controversy took on a political dimension when right-wing circles, including former US president Donald Trump, embraced Sweeney as a figurehead. Trump praised the actress on social media after discovering she was a registered Republican, describing her advertisement as "the 'HOTTEST' ad out there."
Navigating Unwanted Political Associations
In a revealing cover story interview with Cosmopolitan published on Friday 30th January 2026, Sweeney expressed discomfort with the political narrative that has developed around her. "Those aren't my values," she told the magazine, "but I feel like I've never needed to correct people who don't know who I am."
The actress described the experience of having people attribute political beliefs to her as particularly unsettling. "It's definitely not a comfortable thing to have people saying what you believe or think, especially when that doesn't align with you," Sweeney explained. "It's been a weird thing having to navigate and digest, because it's not me. None of it is me."
Sweeney revealed she has been consciously distancing herself from online discourse about her political affiliations. "I'm online and I see things, but I'm slowly pulling myself away. It's definitely gone to a level where it's just not healthy for me to digest it all," she admitted.
A Consistent Position on Political Engagement
The Housemaid star has maintained a consistent position regarding political discussions throughout the controversy. In November, she told GQ magazine that "when I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear." However, the following month she acknowledged to People magazine that her silence had "widened the divide" and clarified that she didn't "support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign."
In her latest interview, Sweeney reinforced her commitment to artistic rather than political expression. "I've never been here to talk about politics. I've always been here to make art, so this is just not a conversation I want to be at the forefront of," she stated emphatically.
The actress expressed frustration at being used as a "pawn" in political discussions. "I think because of that, people want to take it even further and use me as their own pawn. But it's somebody else assigning something to me, and I can't control that," Sweeney explained.
Defining Her Identity Beyond Politics
Sweeney firmly positioned herself as an artist rather than a political figure. "I'm not a political person. I'm in the arts. I'm not here to speak on politics. That's not an area I've ever even imagined getting into," she declared.
The actress reflected on her motivations for entering the entertainment industry, stating: "It's not why I became who I am. I became an actor because I like to tell stories, but I don't believe in hate in any form. I believe we should all love each other and have respect and understanding for one another."
Sweeney acknowledged the difficulty of controlling public narratives once they gain momentum. She admitted she hadn't "figured out" how to manage perceptions when people might assume she was changing her stance to "look better."
"There's no winning. There's never any winning," Sweeney concluded. "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."
Promotional Activities and Legal Concerns
Meanwhile, Sweeney has been promoting her forthcoming lingerie line, Syrn, through unconventional methods that have potentially landed her in legal trouble. The actress recently climbed the iconic Hollywood sign in Los Angeles to hang a clothesline of bras on its 45-foot-tall letters, a promotional stunt that authorities may view as trespassing or vandalism.
This incident adds another layer to the complex public persona Sweeney is navigating as she attempts to maintain focus on her creative projects while managing unexpected political associations and controversial promotional tactics.
