Sydney Sweeney has known the rumors surrounding her, and The White Lotus star admitted it wears her down at times.
“Sometimes it makes me feel down,” Sweeney, 25, said diversity in a cover story interview published Wednesday. “It’s hard to sit back and watch and not be able to stand up for yourself.”
Sweeney, best known for his role as flirtatious drama starter Cassie Howard on Max’s hit drama series Euphoria, has been at the center of rumors for the past few months.
From hearsay about her family’s political views to claims that she’s had an affair with her “Anyone But You” co-star Glen Powell, the internet has been talking about her a lot.
Sweeney faced criticism on social media last year after she hosted a birthday party for her mum and guests at the party wore MAGA-style Blue Lives Matter clothing and merchandise.
Sweeney told Britain’s GQ in November 2022 that the backlash was spreading like a spread “wildfire” after Twitter users began condemning her for the gathering.
Speaking to Variety, the Everything Sucks actor insisted the incident was surrounded by “misinterpretation.”
“There were so many misinterpretations. The people in the pictures weren’t even my family. The people who brought the things that people were upset about were actually my mom’s friends from LA whose kids are outside in the pride parade and they thought it would be fun to wear because they came to Idaho,” she told Variety.
Sweeney added, “People are so quick to build someone up and then love to tear them down.” And it’s so fascinating to watch. Three years ago I went to college like everyone else. And suddenly I’m not human anymore.”
As for the Powell rumor, Sweeney, who is engaged to restaurateur Jonathan Davino, called it quits and told the outlet that she and Powell laughed at the drama.
“We talk all the time and we’re like, ‘This is really funny,'” she said of the pair’s reaction to the headlines about their alleged romance.
Speculations about the co-stars first began in April after the couple – who were both involved with other people at the time – made headlines at CinemaCon for their sizzling chemistry while promoting their upcoming film Anyone But You.
The allegations were compounded after Powell’s then-girlfriend Gigi Paris unfollowed him and Sweeney on Instagram this month before posting a cryptic message online“Recognize your worth and move on.”
“That’s what people want!” Sweeney said of the fans chewing on the rumors about her and Powell. “Glen and I don’t really care. We have so much fun together and we respect each other so much; He’s such a hard worker and I’m a hard worker.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Sweeney was open about how her own words may have prompted some rumors, pointing out that it can be difficult to fully convey her opinions in short interviews.
“When we’re having a two-hour conversation and it has six quotes, it’s so difficult to put the context behind what we’re talking about and the way we’re saying it to each other,” she told Variety.
“Anyone but You” hits theaters on December 15th.