Sydney Sweeney opened up about invasive photographers stalking her home, recalling the time paparazzi tried to barter bikini photos with her family.
Speaking to Glamour, the Euphoria actress, 27, recalled photographers showing up at her new home in Florida and yelling at her family who were outside. “They said, ‘If you tell her to just come outside in a bikini, I’ll take pictures and then I’ll leave you alone,'” Sweeney said.
She then shut down accusations that she calls paparazzi on herself, making note that it would put her safety at risk. “Why would I call the paparazzi to take pictures of me at my own house when my baby cousins and family are there and I’m in my backyard? Why would I ever want that?” asked Sweeney.
“I have pictures of these guys in kayaks hiding in bushes in the ocean,” she said. “They got there at 8 a.m. and wouldn’t leave until 4 p.m. I should be able to be in my home and feel comfortable and safe.” When those photos are published, “then my actual safety is at risk,” added Sweeney. “Everyone knows where I am. Now there’s boats that go by, and I literally hear them say, ‘This is Sydney Sweeney’s house.’ It becomes a star tour in my front yard.”
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The young star is aware of the constant discourse about her body, namely the creepy comments about what her grandparents themselves have dubbed “the best tits in Hollywood.” One of the positives, though, is the comments Sweeney has received from fans about how she’s helped them feel more confident in their body, she said.
“That means a lot to me because I really believe in empowering others and feeling powerful with your body and embracing your sexuality,” Sweeney said. “And if you have boobs, great. Flaunt them.”
Sweeney rose to prominence playing Cassie Howard in the dark and raunchy HBO teen drama Euphoria following turns in The Handmaid’s Tale and Sharp Objects. Other credits include the debut season of The White Lotus and films Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Reality, Anyone But You, and Madame Web. You can catch her next in Eden by director Ron Howard, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Of navigating sudden fame, she told Variety last year, “People are so fast to build someone up, and then they love tearing them down. And it’s so fascinating to see. Three years ago, I was going to college just like everybody else. And all of a sudden, I’m not a human anymore.”
