Sydney Sweeney is once again at the center of a social media debate over what some consider his “overly sexualized” appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
This comes several months after she was trolled online for her controversial “jeans/genes” pun in an American Eagle ad campaign.
Sydney Sweeney, who long ignored the uproar, finally acknowledged that her silence “widened the gap” and said she was “against hate.”
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Sydney Sweeney’s Sports Illustrated Cover Raises Eyebrows
Sweeney was embroiled in another online controversy with her appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Her latest role in the biopic ‘Christy’ sees the 28-year-old Hollywood actress playing real-life boxing champion Christy Martin.
The David Michod-directed film details how Martin found success in boxing in the ’90s and later, later, during the attempted murder of her by her trainer-turned-husband in 2010.
It had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival before hitting theaters a month later.
To promote the film, Sweeney posed alongside the real Christy Martin for the magazine’s latest issue.
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They both wore white tank tops and white boxing shorts emblazoned with the American flag; however, several noted that Sweeney wore a “push-up bra,” in an attempt to seemingly show off her famous assets.
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Fans Slam Actress for Wearing a ‘Push-Up Bra’ Under Her Loose Tank Top
Several netizens took to social media to point out how Sweeney’s chest had been overly photoshopped to make her more sexualized, with some even going so far as to accuse her of wearing a push-up bra.
One person said: “Why is she wearing a push-up bra when she’s dressed like she’s about to box? It doesn’t have to be all sexual/sexy. Plus, this is coming out so late; the movie’s theatrical release is over.”
“An oversized tank top with a push-up bra is crazy,” a second person commented.
Another X user wrote: “I’m not complaining, but why would we see such cleavage? Shouldn’t she wear activewear that hides the girls and makes it easier to move in her sport?”
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“On the cover of SI but no awards nomination announcement,” someone else said, referring to Sweeney’s snubbing by the Golden Globes for her role as “Christy.”
Despite the criticism, some users were happy with the filming, with one saying Sweeney and Martin’s film is a “great tribute to the strength of women’s boxing”.
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The Sydney Sweeney American Eagle Controversy
In July this year, Sweeney teamed up with American Eagle for the “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” campaign, but the ad, in which the blonde, blue-eyed actress made a pun about “jeans” and “genes”, immediately sparked backlash.
“Genes are passed from parents to offspring. Often, they determine traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My ‘jeans’ are blue,” she said, before another voice added: “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.”
Many online critics and industry experts claimed the pun, coupled with the “Euphoria” actress’ look, promoted eugenics and white supremacy.
American Eagle has since defended the campaign, insisting that the slogan “is and always has been about jeans. Her jeans. Her story.”
The actress finally responded to the backlash
Sweeney remained largely silent even after President Donald Trump spoke out on the American Eagle situation.
However, she finally addressed the issue when she admitted that her silence apparently made the situation worse and didn’t help calm unsteady nerves.
“Honestly, I was surprised by the reaction,” she said. People Magazine. “I did it because I love the jeans and the brand. I don’t share the opinions that some people have chosen to link to the campaign.”
Sweeney added: “Many have attributed motivations and labels to me that are simply not true.”
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Sydney Sweeney says she ‘leads with kindness’
The “White Lotus” actress went further, sharing that she is someone who “leads with kindness” and was addressing the situation to set the record straight and eliminate the negativity surrounding her name.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together. I’m against hatred and divisions,” she said.
“In the past, my position has been to never respond to negative or positive press, but recently I have realized that my silence on this issue has only widened the divide, instead of narrowing it,” Sweeney continued. “So I hope this new year will put more emphasis on what connects us rather than what divides us.”
