Sydney Sweeney reunites with Euphoria cast amid political backlash and ad controversy
Sydney Sweeney reunited with her Euphoria co-stars in Los Angeles, just as online debate around her political affiliation and controversial American Eagle ad campaign continued to escalate.
The 27-year-old actress was spotted with Hunter Schafer, 26, and Maude Apatow, 27, as the trio performed a lively karaoke rendition of 4 Non Blondes’ What’s Up at The GasLite, a well-known bar in Santa Monica. Footage of the moment, captured by fellow bar-goer Xochil Rincon, quickly circulated on social media, drawing fresh attention to the actress already under scrutiny.
Jacob Elordi, another Euphoria alum, was also seen hanging out with the group, further fueling speculation about a low-key reunion for the HBO cast.
The sighting comes at a tense moment for Sweeney, whose political party affiliation was recently revealed, reigniting criticism over her alleged ties to right-wing ideology.
According to Daily Mail, Sydney registered as a Republican in Florida in June 2024, a move some fans see as consistent with the backlash she’s been receiving over her American Eagle campaign.
The campaign, launched in July under the tagline “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” was meant to be a playful nod to fashion. But some viewers took issue with the ad’s wording, calling it racially coded and accusing it of echoing eugenics-inspired rhetoric.
In one video clip, Sweeney buttoned her jeans while narrating: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring…” and concluded with: “My genes are blue.” In another, she commented: “My body’s composition is determined by my genes.”
Critics labelled the campaign a “racialised dog whistle,” while some went as far as to call it “Nazi propaganda.” However, many came to Sydney’s defence, calling the outrage exaggerated.
“Comparing this to Nazi propaganda is just ridiculous,” one fan posted on X. “It’s an ad about denim, not DNA supremacy.”
American Eagle also addressed the backlash, releasing a statement defending the actress: “‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way.”
Despite the brand’s attempt to clarify, Sydney’s appearance at the karaoke bar drew mixed reactions, especially given that one of her companions, Hunter Schafer, is a transgender woman. Some critics accused Sydney of trying to “lean on her white girlies with good reputations” to repair her public image.
Others speculated about the nature of her friendships, with one user writing, “I just know Sydney [misgenders] Hunter.” Another added, “Republicans are about to have a meltdown over their Aryan princess hanging out with a trans woman.”
Yet not all commentary was critical. Many fans praised the carefree karaoke moment as evidence that the Euphoria stars remain close — and that Sweeney isn’t letting the noise online derail her real-life relationships.
On Sunday, Sydney subtly addressed the uproar by posting a serene selfie and video to her Instagram Stories, offering a close-up of her blue eyes with no caption, a possible nod to the ad’s line, “My genes are blue.”