Sydney Sweeney Breaks Her Silence on “MAGA Barbie” Label: “I Know Who I Am”

Jason Sargent Friday, January 30, 2026

- - Sydney Sweeney Breaks Her Silence on “MAGA Barbie” Label: “I Know Who I Am”

Michael PrieveJanuary 30, 2026 at 9:28 PM

Sydney Sweeney is finally speaking out. The Euphoria star has addressed the controversial “MAGA Barbie” nickname that’s followed her on social media, and she’s making it clear where she stands.

In a revealing new interview with Cosmopolitan, published Thursday (January 30, 2026), the 28-year-old actress opened up about the charged political label that’s stuck to her online. The conversation came as Sweeney launched her lingerie line SYRN, but the focus quickly shifted to the elephant in the room.

“I’ve never been here to talk about politics,” Sydney Sweeney explained when asked about the MAGA Barbie moniker. “I’ve always been here to make art, so this is just not a conversation I want to be at the forefront of.”

Photo Credit: Morgan Maher for Cosmopolitan

The actress didn’t stop there. She continued by acknowledging how others have tried to control her narrative. “And I think because of that, people want to take it even further and use me as their own pawn,” Sweeney said. “But it’s somebody else assigning something to me, and I can’t control that.”

So how did Sydney Sweeney become linked to the MAGA movement in the first place? The controversy began heating up last year after her American Eagle jeans campaign sparked backlash. The ad featured a play on words between “genes” and “jeans,” which some critics interpreted as promoting problematic ideals.

Things escalated when reports surfaced in August that Sweeney had been registered with the Republican Party of Florida since June 2024. President Donald Trump even weighed in at the time, reportedly saying he loved her ad after learning about her party registration.

Sydney Sweeney at the premiere of ‘The Housemaid’ at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on December 15, 2025. Photo Credit: Dave Starbuck/Future Image/Cover Images

Despite the speculation, Sydney Sweeney has remained steadfast in her reaction to the controversy. “I just have to continue being who I am, because I know who I am,” she stated firmly. “I can’t make everyone love me. I know what I stand for.”

The actress emphasized her real passion lies elsewhere. “I’m not a political person. I’m in the arts,” she stressed. “I’m not here to speak on politics. That’s not an area I’ve ever even imagined getting into.”

Meanwhile, Sweeney addressed the toll that online hate has taken on her mental health. She admitted it’s been challenging to watch people assign beliefs to her that don’t align with who she is. “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 shared.

Sydney Sweeney attends Lionsgate’s Los Angeles screening of ‘Americana’ held at Desert 5 Spot at Hollywood Volume, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel Los Angeles on August 3, 2025. Photo Credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Abaca Press/INSTARimages

The White Lotus star also reflected on her core values. “I became an actor because I like to tell stories, but I don’t believe in hate in any form,” Sydney Sweeney declared. “I believe we should all love each other and have respect and understanding for one another.”

This isn’t the first time Sweeney has addressed the controversy surrounding her American Eagle campaign. Back in December, she told PEOPLE magazine she was “honestly surprised by the reaction” to the jeans ad. “I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign,” she explained at the time.

She added that her previous silence on the issue may have made things worse. “In the past my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press, but recently I have come to realize that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it,” Sweeney admitted.

The reaction to Sydney Sweeney’s latest comments has been mixed. Some fans praised her for speaking out, while others felt she should have been more specific about distancing herself from certain political movements. One social media user questioned why she moved to Florida and registered as a Republican if she doesn’t want to be associated with that party.

On the flip side, other supporters appreciated her stance. One person commented that they respected her decision to focus on arts rather than becoming a spokesperson for every political cause.

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