Sydney Sweeney Faces Backlash Over Natural Beauty Claim

Sydney Sweeney recently sparked a fresh wave of online debate after denying longstanding plastic surgery rumors. During a Truth Serum interview, the Euphoria actress insisted she has “never had any work done.”

What began as a candid response quickly escalated. Social media users began posting side-by-side photos, claiming they proved Sweeney was lying. Yet, many fans defended her natural beauty.

Truth Serum Interview Sparks Controversy

Sweeney’s segment began when co-star Amanda Seyfried asked, “What is one beauty rumor about yourself that you want to debunk right now?”

Sweeney answered confidently:

“I have never gotten work done. I am so scared of needles, you have no idea.”

Seyfried teased that cosmetic procedures are “really effective once you get older,” but Sweeney stood firm. She explained critics were comparing photos of her at twelve to professionally styled images at 26, a misleading comparison.

“You cannot compare a photo of me from when I was 12 to one at 26 with professional makeup and lighting. Of course, I’m going to look different. Everybody on social media is insane,” she said.

Image credits: Craig Barritt/Getty Images / Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Evidence of Natural Aging

Sweeney also highlighted a detail that, according to her, proves she never had work done: her asymmetrical face. She sustained an injury wakeboarding, which required 19 stitches near her eye.

“If I did it, my face would be even. One eye pulls more than the other… it feels like my eye pulls just a little differently,” she explained.

She expressed excitement about aging naturally:

“I’m going to age gracefully.”

Beyond Beauty Controversy

Sweeney’s looks weren’t the only topic putting her in the spotlight in 2025. Earlier this year, an American Eagle denim campaign she starred in sparked backlash for a pun linking “jeans” and “genes.” Critics called it a coded racialized message, though the brand defended the campaign.

During a Variety interview, Sweeney reflected on the scrutiny:

“I play a lot of very divisive characters, and I think that a lot of people think they know me, but they don’t.”

She added that labels attached to her appearance often miss her real self:

“So when people think, ‘Ah, she’s a sex symbol,’ or ‘She’s leaning into that,’ I’m like, ‘No, I just feel good, and I’m doing it for myself and I feel strong.’”