Sydney Sweeney is calling out the idea of “women supporting women” in Hollywood, saying it’s all just for show. In a recent Vanity Fair interview, the Anyone But You star didn’t hold back, stating that the whole idea of women empowering other women in the industry is fake.
She said, “All you hear in this industry is ‘Women empowering women,’ but none of it’s happening. It’s all a front for all the other stuff that’s said behind everyone’s back.”
The conversation turned to how Hollywood treats young female stars, especially after Sweeney was publicly criticized by producer Carol Baum during an April Dead Ringers screening. According to reports, Baum called Sweeney “not pretty” and said she couldn’t act. She also dismissed the film Anyone But You as “unwatchable.”
Reflecting on that moment, Sweeney shared her disappointment. “It’s disheartening to see women tear other women down,” she said. “Especially when successful women in the industry see younger talent working hard and trying to make their dreams come true, only to bash and discredit their work.”
Sweeney pointed out that this kind of behavior may stem from deeper cultural issues. “We’ve been raised to think that only one woman can be at the top — one woman can get the man, one woman can be the best at anything,” she explained. “So, others feel like they need to fight each other or bring that woman down, instead of supporting each other.”
The actress acknowledged that she’s still figuring out how to deal with this toxic dynamic, adding, “I’m just doing my best here. Why am I getting attacked?”
Sweeney’s team had already addressed Baum’s comments back in April, condemning them as “sad” and pointing out how harmful it is for women in the industry to tear each other down. They also criticized Baum’s approach to mentoring, saying, “If that’s what she’s learned in her decades in the industry, that’s shameful.”
