Sydney Sweeney says she has no interest in being pulled into political debates — and she’s making it clear that the nickname “MAGA Barbie” is not one she embraces.
According to Page Six, the 28-year-old actress addressed the firestorm surrounding her public image in a new interview with Cosmopolitan, published Thursday, months after her American Eagle Outfitters “Great Jeans” campaign ignited online backlash.
Critics accused the ad of promoting extremist undertones, pointing to its focus on her blond hair and blue eyes and branding it “Nazi propaganda.”
As the controversy grew, Sweeney also came under scrutiny after it was revealed she has been registered as a Republican since June 2024, despite never publicly sharing her political views.
Asked directly about being labeled “MAGA Barbie,” Sweeney made her stance clear.
“I’ve never been here to talk about politics,” she told the magazine. “I’ve always been here to make art, so this is just not a conversation I want to be at the forefront of.”
She said remaining silent has only invited others to project their own narratives onto her.
“And I think because of that, people want to take it even further and use me as their own pawn,” she continued. “But it’s somebody else assigning something to me, and I can’t control that.”
Sweeney stressed that she does not harbor hate and feels trapped in a no-win situation when it comes to public perception.
“If I say, ‘That’s not true,’ they’ll come at me like, ‘You’re just saying that to look better,’” she explained.
“I just have to continue being who I am, because I know who I am,” she added. “I can’t make everyone love me. I know what I stand for.”
The actress emphasized that politics were never part of her career goals.
“I’m in the arts. I’m not here to speak on politics,” she said. “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, but I don’t believe in hate in any form,” Sweeney added. “I believe we should all love each other and have respect and understanding for one another.”
She also admitted the backlash has taken a personal toll, prompting her to step back from social media commentary.
“It’s definitely not a comfortable thing to have people saying what you believe or think, especially when that doesn’t align with you,” she said. “It’s been a weird thing having to navigate and digest, because it’s not me.”
Last month, Sweeney acknowledged that staying quiet after the ad controversy may have been a mistake.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together. I’m against hate and divisiveness,” she told PEOPLE. “My silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it.”
She said she was “surprised” by the reaction to the campaign.
“I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand,” Sweeney said. “I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign… Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true.”
