Sydney Sweeney is continuing to address the backlash over the infamous birthday party she threw her mom, Lisa, last year.
For those who need a refresher, Sydney faced heavy criticism in August 2022 after fans spotted people wearing MAGA-style hats and "Blue Lives Matter" tops in the background of several photos and videos shared from a “surprise hoedown” she’d thrown for her mom's 60th birthday.
Sydney tagged her brother, Trent Sweeney, who clarified that the MAGA-style red caps worn by multiple guests read, “Make Sixty Great Again.”
After receiving criticism from fans who were appalled at what appeared to be Sydney’s family and friends sporting right-wing merchandise, Sydney told people to “stop making assumptions” and turning the “innocent celebration” into an “absurd political statement.”
Sydney’s response only garnered more backlash, with several internet users questioning why she felt it was strange that people had connected the MAGA-style hats to right-wing political ideologies.
Months later, Sydney steered clear of addressing the controversy at length when she was asked about it during an interview. “Honestly, I feel like nothing I say can help the conversation,” she told GQ before adding, “It’s been turning into a wildfire, and nothing I can say will take it back to the correct track.”
But now Sydney is addressing the controversial event in a little more detail.
Sitting down with Variety this week for a wide-ranging profile, Sydney said that there were “so many misinterpretations” about the party.
“There were so many misinterpretations,” she began. “The people in the pictures weren’t even my family.”
The Euphoria actor went on to suggest that the people who were wearing the MAGA-style hats were her “mom’s friends” who simply thought “it would be funny.”
“The people who brought the things that people were upset about were actually my mom’s friends from LA who have kids that are walking outside in the Pride parade, and they thought it would be funny to wear because they were coming to Idaho,” she said.
