Euphoria co-stars Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney are not on the best of terms, it is reported.
After six years on the HBO teen drama, opposing political views have got between Zendaya, 29, and 28-year-old Sydney’s friendship which is now in tatters, insiders claim.
It is said that Zendaya is ‘refusing’ to do press calls for the upcoming season of Euphoria with Sydney, and that they will not be seen standing next to one another, according to sources working on the show.
The White Lotus actress Sydney sparked controversy in July when an American Eagle ad campaign featuring the star was launched with the tagline ‘Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.’
The pun on the word ‘genes’ sparked considerable backlash from the public, who compared it to rhetoric surrounding eugenics and white supremacy.
After this, multiple news outlets in the US reported that Sweeney’s voting records show her being a registered Republican, though she has not spoken out about this.
President Trump even weighed in, saying ‘Now I love her ad’ after being told the news.
Meanwhile, Zendaya has vocally opposed Trump. After he won presidency for the first time in 2016, the Spider-Man star took to social media and said she was ‘speechless, petrified, heartbroken and weary’.
‘I don’t know what to say or what to do. I guess I just never knew how many people in this country didn’t love other people in this country,’ she said.
Now sources claim their apparent differences have led to a feud between the actors.
An insider told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s a difficult position for Zendaya to be in because if she even stands next to Sydney on the red carpet, it can be read as her excusing Sydney’s views on Trump and her refusal to apologise for the racist ad.’
Until now the pair seemingly had a good friendship, as Sweeney previously cheered on Zendaya when she won an Emmy in 2020.
‘We were all watching the Emmys because we were all crossing our fingers and we just freaked out,’ Sydney said, adding: ‘It’s so amazing, I’m very, very proud and excited for Z.’
Talking about working with Zendaya on Euphoria, Sydney reflected that she was ‘really lucky’, adding to Access Hollywood: It’s been amazing being able to watch her and just see how much of a boss-a** she is.’
Sydney recently told GQ that the reaction to the jeans ad was a ‘surprise’ and heavily hinted she will not be weighing in on the backlash or responding, as she said: ‘When I have an issue I want to speak about, people will hear.’
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Trump doubled down on his praise of Sydney after her reported voting records were revealed, as he took to Truth Social to unload a fiery rant explaining why the actress’jeans campaign makes ‘woke’ Taylor Swift ‘no longer hot’.
‘Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the “HOTTEST” ad out there. It’s for American Eagle, and the jeans are “flying off the shelves”,’ he began.
‘Go get ‘em Sydney! On the other side of the ledger, Jaguar did a stupid, and seriously WOKE advertisement, THAT IS A TOTAL DISASTER! The CEO just resigned in disgrace, and the company is in absolute turmoil.
‘Who wants to buy a Jaguar after looking at that disgraceful ad. Shouldn’t they have learned a lesson from Bud Lite, which went Woke and essentially destroyed, in a short campaign, the Company.’
He went on to claim that the ‘market cap destruction has been unprecedented’ before turning his attention to Swift, who is not affiliated with the jeans campaign.
‘Or just look at Woke singer Taylor Swift. Ever since I alerted the world as to what she was by saying on TRUTH that I can’t stand her (HATE!),’ Trump continues.
‘She was booed out of the Super Bowl and became, NO LONGER HOT. The tide has seriously turned — Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be. Thank you for your attention to this matter!’
American Eagle defended their campaign, writing in a statement: ‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story.
‘We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.’
Meanwhile, Sydney has not clarified her political views.
Metro has contacted reps for Syndey Sweeney and Zendaya for comment.
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