‘I can’t make everyone love me’: Sydney Sweeney talks political views and controversial ‘MAGA Barbie’ nickname

Sydney Sweeney is once again making headlines, but this time, it’s for political reasons after she was dubbed ‘MAGA Barbie’.

In a new interview, The Housemaid actress spoke candidly on the controversy that surrounded her American Eagle Outfitters “Great Jeans” campaign that dropped last July.

The ad sparked intense debate online, with some accusing it of being “Nazi propaganda” that praised Sweeney’s blonde hair and blue eyes.

Sweeney spoke to Cosmopolitan where she addressed the 2025 controversy: “These aren’t my values, but I feel like I’ve never needed to correct people who don’t know who I am.”

When asked about the “MAGA Barbie” nickname that has stuck to her on social media, Sweeney said politics has never been part of it for her.

“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,” Sweeney said.

“And 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 added that she’s “not a hateful person”, and there’s “never any winning” when it comes to addressing politically charged assumptions about herself.

“If I say ‘that’s not true’, they’ll come at me like, ‘You’re just saying that to look better.’

“I just have to continue being who I am, because I know who I am,” she said. “I can’t make everyone love me. I know what I stand for.”

When questioned on whether or not she’d speak to her fans on political issues, Sweeney replied “No.”

“I am 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. It’s not why I became who I am.”

“I became an actor because I like to tell stories,” she said.

“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.”

Last month, the Euphoria star talked to People about the ad that took the internet by storm and said she was surprised by the reaction.

“I did a jean ad. I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans. I’m literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life,” she said.

Despite not initially wanting to engage with the press about the controversy, Sweeney decided to speak out on it to clarify her stance.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together. I’m against hate and divisiveness,” she said.

“In the past my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press but recently I have come to realise that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it.

“So I hope this new year brings more focus on what connects us instead of what divides us.”