Do you know where Sydney Sweeney studied before landing her breakout role in Euphoria?
Sydney Sweeney
became a breakout star in
Euphoria
, she was just another student trying to make it work at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She wasn't there long, but that brief stint in college says more about her than most people realise.
While her Hollywood career was quietly gaining momentum, Sydney Sweeney was still showing up for lectures, balancing shoots with robotics and math club. For someone who grew up in a small town, pitched her parents a five-year plan to start acting, and graduated valedictorian, college wasn't just a backup. It was part of the plan.
It's easy to overlook the academic layer in Sydney Sweeney's story, now that her name is linked to red carpets and leading roles.
But her education choices and career path reflect the same strategic mindset that has defined her rise in Hollywood.
The five-year business plan
Sweeney was born in Spokane, Washington. Her mother was a criminal defense lawyer and her father worked in hospitality. Young Sydney was, in her words, 'in every single sport possible.' From slalom skiing to wakeboarding, Sweeney's early life reads like a catalog of high-octane curiosity.
What's lesser known is how early her sense of direction kicked in.
After getting cast as an extra in an indie film shooting near Spokane, she didn't just beg her parents to let her try acting. She pitched them a five-year business plan. Soon, the family was traveling between Portland and Seattle for commercial gigs, before relocating to Los Angeles when she was 13.
From robotics to red carpets
While chasing roles in TV and film, Sweeney still kept one foot in academics. She joined the robotics team in high school, was a member of the math club, and graduated as valedictorian from Brighton Hall School in Burbank.
For a brief time, she also attended UCLA, a fact that rarely surfaces in the fast-cut narratives of her career but adds context to her disciplined climb.
That same discipline would shape her early acting resume. Long before the Emmy nominations and luxury brand endorsements, she was racking up guest roles in 90210, Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, and Pretty Little Liars. Her big year came in 2018 when she balanced two major shows, Everything Sucks! and Sharp Objects, filming one during the week and the other on weekends.
Her character in Sharp Objects was originally written as minor, but her performance kept her on set longer.
Directors took notice, so did audiences.
Building more than a resume
Then came Euphoria. Her portrayal of 'Cassie' earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination and cemented her status as a breakout star. That same year, she launched her production company, Fifty-Fifty Films, with a clear intent: to create roles and stories on her own terms.
From there, the pace quickened.
She portrayed 'Eden' in The Handmaid's Tale, starred in The White Lotus, and took on more demanding projects, where critics described her as 'the real deal.' She voiced a song intro, hosted Saturday Night Live, and even restored a 1969 Ford Bronco. Somewhere in between, she also became a brand ambassador for Armani Beauty and Laneige.
But the most compelling parts of Sweeney's journey are not just the glossy career milestones.
They're the quieter moves, the five-year plan she pitched as a teen, the robotics club, the short stint at UCLA, and the mindset that treating acting like a business was non-negotiable. Whether she's producing horror films or co-starring in biopics and thrillers, she's been building more than a career.
In 2025, Sweeney is not just an actress with a fanbase. She's also a producer and someone who once saw education not as an escape from Hollywood but as a way to power through it.
So yes, she did go to UCLA. Briefly. And no, Euphoria wasn't just a lucky break. It was the result of a carefully crafted plan, one she's still revising, producing, and starring in.
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Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Explained: Why Sydney Sweeney's new American Eagle ad is being called 'fascist' and 'Nazi'- and being labelled 'white supremacist'
Godwin's law states that any internet discussion will always veer towards someone making a comparison with Nazi or Hitler. And now that 4chan/Reddit ailment has escaped into the real world. A denim ad meant to celebrate American style has instead ignited a firestorm online, with critics accusing American Eagle and actress Sydney Sweeney of peddling "Nazi fascist" propaganda through a campaign that plays on the phrase 'great genes'—a pun some say dangerously echoes eugenic and white supremacist ideals. TL;DR Sydney Sweeney stars in a new American Eagle ad campaign with the tagline: 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.' The campaign includes a video where Sweeney crosses out the word 'genes' and replaces it with 'jeans.' Online critics say the ad is coded with racial overtones and liken it to white supremacist propaganda. Accusations include promoting eugenic ideals and glorifying 'white genes.' Neither Sweeney nor American Eagle has responded to the growing backlash. What's in the ad? The ad, part of American Eagle's new denim campaign, features 27-year-old Euphoria actress Sydney Sweeney in a distinctly Americana setting—fixing her car, slipping into the driver's seat, all while sporting a pair of jeans. The tagline reads: 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.' A follow-up video posted to American Eagle's Instagram shows Sweeney approaching a billboard with the phrase 'great genes.' She strikes out the word 'genes' with red paint and replaces it with 'jeans.' A cheeky wordplay, right? Not according to a growing number of online critics. Why are people calling it 'Nazi propaganda'? T by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo he criticism stems from the historical baggage tied to the phrase 'great genes.' According to a widely circulated Salon article, the expression has long been associated with white supremacist ideals—used to promote whiteness, thinness, and eurocentric beauty standards. The problem, critics argue, is that when the phrase is paired with Sweeney—a blue-eyed, blonde-haired woman often labelled the embodiment of 'classic American beauty'—it begins to resemble eugenic messaging. 'A blonde haired blue eyed white woman is talking about her good genes—that is Nazi propaganda,' said one viral TikTok user. The visual of Sweeney crossing out 'genes' and writing 'jeans' has also been read as symbolic—an attempt to deflect or mock the implications of genetic superiority while simultaneously reinforcing them. What are people saying online? Social media backlash has been fierce and fast: On X (formerly Twitter): 'The Sydney Sweeney American Eagle jeans ad is NAZI propaganda, and you're a fascist if you don't agree.' 'They could've gotten a beautiful Black woman to do this ad, but they picked a yt [white] woman instead…' 'American Eagle needs to delete those Sydney Sweeney ads. They are genuinely scary.' On TikTok: Several creators have posted explainers breaking down the 'dog whistles' embedded in the ad, referencing how similar language was used in Nazi Germany and, more recently, in far-right political circles to celebrate white dominance. But is this really that deep? That's the cultural debate now unfolding. On one hand, the campaign is clearly playing on a pun—'genes' and 'jeans.' On the other, when those words are paired with an image of a conventionally white American beauty and a brand literally called American Eagle, the symbolism feels more loaded than cheeky. Whether or not the messaging was intentional, critics argue that intent doesn't negate impact—especially when mass-market fashion ads operate in an ecosystem shaped by decades of race, class, and beauty privilege. Have American Eagle or Sydney Sweeney responded? No. As of July 28, 2025, neither the actress nor the brand has issued a public statement addressing the controversy. American Eagle's Instagram post remains live, though comments appear to be limited or heavily moderated. Has the campaign affected the brand? Ironically, while the backlash raged online, the campaign did boost business. According to reports, American Eagle saw a 4% spike in shares after the ad dropped. But social goodwill may have taken a hit. Gen Z and millennial consumers—core demographics for American Eagle—have increasingly shown a preference for socially conscious branding, and this incident could create longer-term reputational risks. Why is Sydney Sweeney often controversial? This isn't the first time the actress has found herself in political hot water. Sweeney previously drew criticism in 2022 when photos surfaced from her mother's 60th birthday party, where guests were seen in red hats that looked like MAGA caps. The hats actually read 'Make Sixty Great Again,' a pun on her mother's milestone birthday, but many on the internet interpreted it as a pro-Trump statement. The actress denied any political affiliations at the time, saying the celebration was not intended to be political, but the incident left the internet keeping a close eye on her public image. In this case, it's less about what Sweeney has said and more about what her image represents in the broader cultural landscape. FAQs Q: What's wrong with the phrase 'great genes'? A: It has historical ties to eugenics and white supremacy, especially when used to describe blonde, blue-eyed, Eurocentric beauty as inherently superior. Q: Was this ad intentionally fascist? A: That's debatable. 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Mint
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- Mint
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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Sydney Sweeney Net Worth: Could the Euphoria actor lose money over her American Eagle 'propaganda' campaign?
Sydney Sweeney is no stranger to the internet's attention, but this time, it's hitting different. The 'Euphoria' star, who only added more glamour to her meteoric rise with projects like The White Lotus, Anyone But You, is facing backlash now, thanks to her latest ad campaign. This summer, the Hollywood star found herself at the center of controversy over American Eagle's 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' campaign, widely criticized for its 'genes' pun and imagery evoking eugenics and racialized messaging. While Sweeney has carved her own path with a noteworthy career and even a production company under her name (Fifty-Fifty Films, founded in 2020), and amassed a reported net worth of around $40 million, she is potentially on the verge of a great setback in her career. Will her financial portfolio be affected by the 'propaganda' campaign of American Eagle? Let's unpack the facts and possibilities. Sydney Sweeney: Net Worth As of 2025, Sydney Sweeney's estimated net worth stands at approximately $40 million, according to multiple entertainment and finance sources. Her income streams are as varied as they are impressive: Acting: Major roles in Euphoria, The White Lotus, Anyone But You, Madame Web, and Immaculate have brought in millions. Her acting salary reportedly included $2 million for Anyone But You (plus producer credit), $750,000 for Madame Web, and $250,000 for Immaculate, with her biggest payday being $7.5 million for The Housemaid. Producing: Sweeney also produces under her Fifty-Fifty Films banner. Reports estimate her producer fees added $1–2 million to her Anyone But You paycheck. Brand endorsements: She has worked with Armani Beauty, Laneige, Miu Miu, Guess, and Ford, among others, contributing significantly to her net worth. Real estate: Sydney has flipped multiple homes and invested in real estate in LA and Washington. Entrepreneurship: In 2024, she launched a successful home and body brand, including novelty products that surprisingly gained viral traction. Despite her success, Sydney has been candid about Hollywood's financial pressures, once stating she couldn't afford to take long breaks from work due to overhead costs, even with a lucrative portfolio. The controversial American Eagle campaign This July, American Eagle released a campaign titled 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,' a play on words between 'genes' and 'jeans'. The commercial shows Sweeney reflecting on 'inheriting her mom's eyes, her grandma's smile,' and eventually, 'her great jeans.' On the surface, it's cheeky fashion marketing, but many viewers saw a darker subtext. Critics swiftly called the campaign tone‑deaf, even worse, drawing comparisons to Nazi propaganda and eugenic rhetoric because of its focus on blue‑eyed blonde features and the phrase 'great genes.' The phrase 'great genes' has historically been used in discriminatory ways, and many on social media and in think pieces equate the messaging with 'white beauty supremacy.' The aftermath Despite the backlash, American Eagle defended the campaign, calling it a 'celebration of individuality and family heritage,' but public sentiment was already divided. Furthermore, American Eagle's stock jumped by about 18%, giving the campaign a short-term financial boost and visibility surge. The campaign also highlighted a charity component: net proceeds from a branded 'Sydney Jean' design, adorned with a butterfly symbol for domestic violence awareness, are being donated to a mental health helpline Could it affect Sydney Sweeney – financially? Sydney Sweeney isn't new to controversy; she's previously been criticized for her family's political leanings and a conservative-themed party. But this American Eagle campaign stirred unique anger by positioning her beauty as genetically superior, whether intentionally or not. So, what could be the repercussions? The ongoing backlash may damage Sweeney's standing with socially conscious brands. Labels that focus on inclusivity and diversity may rethink partnerships. In fact, if pressure mounts, American Eagle could pull the ad, potentially costing Sweeney performance-based bonuses or residuals. Moreover, if the controversy continues, some brands might reconsider partnerships, especially those concerned about maintaining inclusive messaging. Hollywood clauses tied to public image and reputational risk could come into play. However, Sweeney's team reportedly does not control creative messaging; she serves as a model, not a campaign creator. That distinction may protect her from being seen as responsible for messaging missteps. Is there a flip side? Ironically, yes. Every controversy helps brands get some press, and as we know it by now, whether it's good or bad, press fuels visibility, and visibility translates to dollars. American Eagle's campaign followed suit, and since the campaign launched, the brand reportedly saw a surge in online traffic and product searches, and Sweeney trended globally for several days, placing her in media cycles beyond the entertainment pages. So, unless this controversy spirals into a broader boycott or a systemic pattern of brand missteps, her net worth is unlikely to take a serious hit. In fact, she might end up gaining more visibility, translating into more avenues for her. To sum up, although the American Eagle campaign is a wake-up call for celebrity brand alignment, Sweeney's career shows no signs of slowing. If anything, she has several upcoming projects lined up, including a boxing biopic about Christy Martin, a role in Ron Howard's Eden, and the lead in Barbarella. She is also starring in Echo Valley and is set to appear in Euphoria season 3. Additionally, she is involved in a film adaptation of The Registration and is producing OutRun with Michael Bay.
