Sydney Sweeney, the breakout star of HBO’s “Euphoria,” has hit back at a Hollywood producer who criticized her appearance and acting skills.
In a recent interview, Carol Baum, known for her work on films like “Dead Ringers” and “Fly Away Home,” said she found Sweeney’s performance in the rom-com “Anyone But You” to be unimpressive. She also commented negatively on Sweeney’s physical attributes, saying, “She’s not pretty, she can’t act. Why is she so hot?”
Sweeney’s response was swift and fiery. Through a representative, she told Metro.co.uk, “How sad that a woman in the position to share her expertise and experience chooses instead to attack another woman. If that’s what she’s learned in her decades in the industry and feels is appropriate to teach to her students, that’s shameful. To unjustly disparage a fellow female producer speaks volumes about Ms. Baum’s character.”
Baum’s remarks sparked a debate on social media, with some claiming that Sweeney’s popularity signals the decline of “wokeness.” The term “wokeness” is often used to describe a heightened awareness of social and racial justice issues. Some argued that Sweeney’s success, despite Baum’s criticism, suggests that audiences are becoming less tolerant of the traditional standards of beauty and representation.
In a viral post on X, one user wrote, “Wokeness is dead,” above a clip of Sweeney on “Saturday Night Live” in a low-cut dress. A Canadian publication commented that “we’ve spent years being chastised for desiring or admiring beauty” but that “we’ve done it anyways. The times, they are a-changin’. Aren’t they?”
The debate over Sweeney’s appearance and Baum’s comments highlights the ongoing tension in Hollywood and society at large over the roles of women and the standards of beauty.
