Sydney Sweeney Calls Out Paparazzi For Going To Extreme Measures
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on October 3, 2024 at 10:45 AM EDT
Sydney Sweeney is opening up about her unsettling experiences with the paparazzi, revealing how far some will go to capture her image.
The "Euphoria" star shared an alarming story of how the paps went to extreme measures just to try and snap photos of her by the pool at her home.
In a new interview, Sydney Sweeney didn’t hold back, emphasizing not only the emotional toll this relentless scrutiny has had on her but also the impact it has had on her family.
Sydney Sweeney Opens Up About Her Experience With The Paparazzi
After being named Glamour’s 2024 Woman of the Year, Sydney Sweeney opened up about body image, including a specific incident where the paparazzi played into Hollywood’s habit of typecasting women based on appearance.
According to the "Anyone But You" actress, the paps recently showed up at her new home in Florida, shouting at her family while they 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,’” she told the outlet.
After the photos were released, there was speculation that she had tipped off the paparazzi herself, a claim she strongly refutes.
“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?" she said. "I have pictures of these guys in kayaks hiding in bushes in the ocean. 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.”
Sydney Sweeney Opens Up About Privacy And Safety While Navigating Hollywood Stardom
Sydney Sweeney revealed that it’s not necessarily the photographers themselves who unsettle her, but rather the awareness of how easily her location can be uncovered online, allowing people to pinpoint her home and linger around her property.
During a recent conversation in her driveway with Glamour, the outlet witnessed this firsthand when a woman drove by slowly and waved. Once the two realized we didn’t recognize the vehicle, they quickly moved to a less visible spot.
“When those photos go out, then my actual safety is at risk,” Sweeney said. “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.”
Sydney Sweeney Slams Rumors About Her Fiancé Jonathan Davino
In the same interview with Glamour, Sydney Sweeney also pushed back against the stereotype that her fiancé, Jonathan Davino, whom she’s been with since 2018, is footing the bill simply because he’s older.
“I would love to set the record straight,” she told Glamour. “You can be in a healthy relationship with someone and also be very successful without needing the man."
She then clarified that Davino is not a financial backer of Fifty-Fifty Films, her production company dedicated to developing more complex and multi-dimensional roles for women in Hollywood. Instead, he serves as a valuable sounding board.
"We’re teammates," the actress added. "We’re in it together. And we want to see each other succeed.”
Sydney Sweeney Is Proud Of The 'Independent Woman' She Is
She made it clear that she independently makes her own decisions, particularly when it comes to finances.
“I’m a very successful, independent woman who’s worked really hard,” she said. “I’ve accomplished and bought everything myself, and I provide for myself and my family.”
She expressed gratitude for being able to pay off her mom’s mortgage, fly her grandparents to Italy to visit her on set and purchase her uncle’s dream boat for the family lake. It’s in those moments that she truly reflects on how far she has come.
Opening Up About Body Positivity
The "Euphoria" star has been candid about her struggles with body image, particularly regarding her self-consciousness about her breasts as her career began to flourish.
I really believe in empowering others and feeling powerful with your body and embracing your sexuality,” she told Glamour. “And if you have boobs, great. Flaunt them.”
This is something she has previously opened up about as well, telling Glamour UK, “I want to show girls that it’s amazing and beautiful and empowering to have the bodies that we have. Everybody’s body is beautiful. When you are confident and you’re happy within, it really shows to other people.”