During a festive special of Celebrity Family Feud on Thursday night, actress Sydney Sweeney managed to divert attention from the game's questions to her own highly unconventional ensemble. The episode, which aired on Thursday, featured Sweeney and her co-stars from The Housemaid facing off against a team from Real Housewives All-Stars.
A Layered Look Sparks Social Media Frenzy
For her appearance on the Steve Harvey-hosted show, Sweeney opted for a complex, multi-layered outfit that quickly became the night's main talking point. She wore a strapless black mini-dress featuring a decorative bow at the bust. This was layered over a visible white bra, which itself sat atop a maroon cardigan. Underneath it all was a grey shirt, neatly tucked in. The actress completed the look with a pair of pointed white heels.
While the teams tackled holiday-themed prompts, viewers on social media platforms were far more preoccupied with Sweeney's fashion choices. On X, formerly Twitter, one user pointedly remarked, "Sydney Sweeney is on Celebrity Family Feud right now wearing two cardigans and a mini dress with ill fitting bra cups. If anybody was wondering."
Another fan expressed sheer bewilderment, writing, "What the f*** is Sydney Sweeney wearing on Celebrity Family Feud? Hahah." Similar comments flooded a YouTube clip posted by the official Family Feud account, with one viewer noting they had "Missed something on Sydney's outfit."
Rule-Breaking and Brand Backlash
Aside from the sartorial scrutiny, some audience members criticised the celebrity contestants for seemingly not adhering to the game's rules. Comments on YouTube alleged that Sweeney and co-star Amanda Seyfried were conferring before answering, which would typically lead to disqualification in a standard episode. One viewer complained, "Asking each other what to say when it's your individual turn... can celebrities really not follow the most basic of rules?"
The television appearance follows closely on the heels of controversy for American Eagle, a brand Sweeney has fronted. The company recently faced significant backlash over an ad campaign starring the actress, which was accused of promoting eugenics due to its "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" tagline. Critics argued the phrase "great genes" has historically been used to celebrate specific, exclusionary beauty standards.
Moving Forward with a New Campaign Face
In an apparent effort to shift course, American Eagle unveiled 84-year-old Martha Stewart as the new face of its holiday Give Great Campaign just a week before Sweeney's Family Feud episode. Stewart's campaign promotes denim as a timeless gift. Despite the online chatter about her unusual TV outfit, Sweeney herself appeared delighted with her game show experience. She shared behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram, including one where she beamed while displaying her contestant badge, captioned, "Can you tell how excited I was? Haha."
The incident highlights how a celebrity's fashion moment can sometimes eclipse the event they are attending, generating extensive online discourse and debate far beyond the original context.
