Sydney Sweeney's Box Office Blues: American Eagle Controversy Takes a Toll
Sydney Sweeney's Career Takes a Hit: Box Office Bomb and Backlash Over American Eagle Ad
In a shocking turn of events, Sydney Sweeney's latest film, Americana, is tanking at the box office, and it seems that her American Eagle ad controversy has come back to haunt her. The actress, known for her roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus, may have just suffered a major career blow.
The drama, which premiered at South by Southwest in 2023, has been met with lukewarm reviews from critics, with a mediocre 68% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite some early buzz, the movie is projected to gross only $850,000 from 1,100 theaters in its opening weekend, ranking a disappointing 16th place at the box office.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Americana's lackluster performance can be attributed to Sweeney's recent American Eagle ad campaign, which sparked outrage among critics who labeled it "Nazi propaganda." The ad, which played on the words 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans/Genes,' was widely panned for its perceived insensitivity and ignorance.
Sweeney, 27, has been at the center of controversy in recent weeks. Her registration as a Republican in Florida prior to the 2024 Presidential election has sparked heated debate among her fans and critics alike. While some have praised her for speaking her mind, others have condemned her politics as "out of touch" with the values of her younger audience.
The backlash against Sweeney's American Eagle ad has been fierce, with many calling out the brand for its perceived association with far-right ideologies. In response to the criticism, Sweeney took to social media to promote her film, Americana, writing: "a few years ago I filmed this little movie with some friends and now you get to meet penny jo ♥️," referring to her character, a wanna-be country singer.
However, Sweeney's attempt to shift the focus back to her film only seemed to fan the flames of controversy. Many fans took to social media to express their disappointment and outrage over her politics, while others came to her defense, praising her for being unapologetically herself.
One angry fan wrote: "I lost you at registered republican." Another penned: "So you voted for trump? The man in the Epstein files??"
The reference to Trump's association with convicted felon Jeffrey Epstein was a clear indication of the severity of the backlash. However, Sweeney's fans were quick to push back against the criticism, praising her as "The woman who made the woke community cry" and "America loves Sydney ❤️."
Despite the controversy surrounding her American Eagle ad, Sweeney is set to star in several upcoming projects, including Christy, a biopic about professional boxer Christy Martin, which will debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5. The drama does not have a distributor yet, and how quickly it gets one may depend on how potential buyers feel it might be received by audiences with Sweeney as lead.
Sweeney's next big test will come when the psychological thriller, The Housemaid, opens in theaters on December 25. Based on the news of Americana's poor box office performance, it remains to be seen whether her star power will be enough to carry these upcoming projects through.
As one insider puts it: "Sydney Sweeney's career is at a crossroads. She needs to carefully navigate the aftermath of this controversy and prove that she can still command attention from audiences without compromising her values or alienating her fans."
Only time will tell if Sweeney will be able to bounce back from this setback and emerge stronger than ever, but one thing is certain – her career has just taken a fascinating turn, and we can't wait to see what's next.
