Sydney Sweeney is tired. Honestly, can you blame her? For years, the Euphoria star has been the subject of a very specific kind of internet obsession—one that fluctuates between praising her "old school" bombshell looks and tearing her apart for supposedly setting feminism back several decades. But recently, she stopped playing the game. She didn't just hint at the friction; she blew the doors off the hinges.
Why Sydney Sweeney Criticizes the Inauthenticity of Women's Empowerment in Hollywood
It all came to a head in a Vanity Fair 2025 Hollywood Issue interview. While most stars stick to the PR-approved script of "sisterhood" and "girl power," Sweeney went rogue. She called the industry's mantra of "women empowering other women" a complete front.
"None of it's happening," she said. It's a blunt, almost jarring statement in an era where every awards show features a montage about female solidarity. According to her, the reality behind the scenes is a messy landscape of backstabbing and performative allyship. It’s "fake," she says, a facade used to mask the "shit that they say behind everyone's back."
The Carol Baum Incident: A Catalyst for Candor
You probably remember the drama from early 2024. Veteran producer Carol Baum—the woman behind classics like Father of the Bride—decided to use a public screening to wonder aloud why anyone likes Sydney Sweeney. She told her class at USC that Sweeney "isn't pretty" and "can't act."
Think about that. A successful, established woman in the industry used her platform as an educator to disparage a 27-year-old colleague's physical appearance. It wasn't a critique of a specific scene or a business decision. It was personal.
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Sweeney’s team didn’t stay quiet. They pointed out how "shameful" it was for a woman in Baum's position to use her expertise to attack another woman. But for Sydney, this wasn't just an isolated beef. It was proof of a systemic rot.
The "Only One at the Top" Myth
Why does this happen? Sweeney has a theory, and it’s backed by a lot of psychology she’s been reading lately. She believes the industry—and society at large—has conditioned women to believe in a scarcity of success.
- The Generational Problem: We were raised to believe only one woman can be the "it girl" or the one to "get the man."
- The Scarcity Mindset: If there’s only one seat at the table, women feel they have to pull the person in that seat down to take their place.
- The Disconnect: Publicly, these same women will post "Women Supporting Women" hashtags while privately discrediting younger talent.
It's a "pick-me" culture on a corporate level. Instead of building a bigger table, people are fighting over the scraps. Sweeney finds it "disheartening" that women who have already achieved success see younger talent working their tails off and choose to bash them instead of mentoring them.
Is This a "Post-Woke" Pivot?
Some critics are calling her comments a pivot. They see her as leaning into a more conservative or "anti-woke" narrative. After all, she’s been criticized by the "woke mob" for everything from her family’s choice of clothing at a birthday party to her American Eagle ads.
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But if you look closely, she isn't attacking the idea of empowerment. She’s attacking the lie of it.
She's pointing out that "empowerment" has become a marketing tool rather than a practice. It's easy to put a "Girl Boss" sticker on a laptop; it's much harder to actually advocate for a female peer when it might cost you a job or a headline.
The Reality of the Male Gaze vs. Female Agency
A lot of the hate directed at Sweeney stems from her comfort with her own body. Critics argue she "panders to the male gaze." They say her roles in Euphoria or Anyone But You lean too heavily on her sexuality.
Here is the thing: she’s also the producer.
Sweeney isn't just an actress waiting for a phone call. She’s a businesswoman through her production company, Fifty-Fifty Films. She produced Immaculate. She produced Anyone But You. When she makes decisions about how she is portrayed, she’s the one holding the checkbook.
When she criticizes the inauthenticity of women's empowerment in Hollywood, she’s speaking as a peer to the producers who are trashing her. She’s in the room. She sees how the sausage is made, and she’s telling us it’s mostly filler.
What We Can Learn from the Fallout
The reaction to her comments was split. On one side, you have fans who find her "based" and refreshing. On the other, you have people who think she’s being ungrateful or "exhausting."
The truth is likely in the middle. Hollywood is a business built on vanity and competition. Expecting it to be a utopian sisterhood is probably naive. But Sweeney’s refusal to play along with the "everything is great" narrative is a significant shift in how younger stars handle their public personas.
Actionable Takeaways for Navigating Professional Empowerment
If you’re looking at this drama and wondering how it applies to your own life—even if you aren't an Emmy-nominated actress—there are some real lessons here.
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- Identify Performative Support: In your workplace, look for people whose public praise doesn't match their private actions. Be wary of "mentors" who only support you when it benefits their own image.
- Reject the Scarcity Mindset: Just because a colleague is winning doesn't mean you're losing. Practice "amplification"—when a woman makes a good point in a meeting, repeat it and give her credit.
- Own Your Narrative: Sweeney’s power comes from her ownership. Whether it’s starting your own project or just being clear about your boundaries, don’t let others define your "empowerment."
- Call Out the Hypocrisy: You don't have to be a celebrity to point out when "company values" don't match the reality of the office culture.
Sydney Sweeney isn't asking for pity. She’s asking for honesty. She knows she’s lucky, but she’s also aware that the industry's shiny exterior is often a thin veneer. By speaking out, she’s forcing a conversation that most people in Hollywood would rather keep behind closed doors.
To better understand how these dynamics play out in your own industry, try auditing your professional circle. Look for mentors who offer "constructive criticism" that feels more like a personal attack. Transitioning away from toxic "empowerment" cycles starts with recognizing them for what they are: a front.