Overview
- At the Los Angeles premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre, photographers did not capture Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney together in any red carpet groupings.
- The separate appearances revived media discussion of distance between the co-stars that outlets have tied to Sweeney’s 2025 American Eagle campaign built on a “jeans/genes” wordplay.
- Critics cited by outlets including Euronews said the ad’s focus on “good genes” and idealized white features echoed ideas tied to racial superiority.
- Sydney Sweeney later said she was surprised by that reading and rejected any ideology of hate, acknowledging the backlash without offering a full apology.
- Tabloids quoting unnamed sources, including The Sun, alleged long-running tensions and minimized contact during filming and promotion, though mainstream reports note HBO has not confirmed any conflict.