A tense moment unfolded on the red carpet at the Euphoria season three premiere held at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX, where Zendaya, 29, appeared to avoid Sydney Sweeney, 28, during interactions with co-stars.
Video footage captures Zendaya warmly hugging co-star Hunter Schafer while Sweeney shifts her gaze away, sparking widespread discussion online. Fans quickly highlighted the exchange, with one observer noting, “Zendaya greets Hunter, hugs her, and in the back Sydney who’s looking at Hunter but the moment Zendaya turns toward her she nervously looks away.”
The Red Carpet Encounter
The pair joined other cast members for the event, but clips suggest deliberate avoidance. Social media users pointed out Zendaya briefly arriving before returning to her car, with comments like, “So she wasn’t playing about not doing press with Sydney Sweeney.” Another post read, “Zendaya is seen seemingly ignoring Sydney Sweeney in this clip, & the internet is already connecting dots.”
Rumors of Long-Standing Tensions
Speculation traces the rift back to Zendaya’s relationship with Tom Holland, her rumored husband. Reports indicate Sweeney liked social media posts praising Holland as “damn fine” and “hot.” Insiders confirm early tensions on the Euphoria set, describing it as “an open secret that Sydney had the hots for Tom and was flirty with him when he would come to set.” Euphoria producers reportedly recognize the discord between the actresses.
Sydney Sweeney’s Political Spotlight
Compounding the issues, Sweeney’s political views have drawn attention, earning her the nickname “MAGA Barbie.” Last summer, her American Eagle jeans ad, featuring the phrase “good genes,” faced backlash with critics likening it to controversial propaganda. Reports later confirmed her registration as a Republican, prompting mixed reactions—condemnation from some and praise from others, including a comment from former President Donald Trump: “Now I love her ad.”
In a January interview, Sweeney addressed the labels, stating, “I’ve never been here to talk about politics. I’ve always been here to make art, so this is just not a conversation I want to be at the forefront of.” She added, “The way she has been described in partisan terms is ‘somebody else assigning something to me, and I can’t control that.'”
Sweeney emphasized her stance: “I’m not a hateful person… There’s no winning. There’s never any winning.” She affirmed, “I just have to continue being who I am, because I know who I am. I can’t make everyone love me. I know what I stand for.” Promoting kindness, she shared, “I’ve always led with love… You should be kind to whoever you meet.” Recalling her time on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, she noted watching Brad Pitt interact respectfully with crew, saying, “Yeah, you have to respect everybody in your life.”
Sweeney shows no plans to delve deeper into political discussions.
