‘Euphoria’ fans joke Sydney Sweeney was ‘method acting’ after Cassie’s MAGA rant in new episode
Social media users reference previous controversies based on Sweeney’s perceived political affiliations
Fans of Euphoria have drawn comparisons between Sydney Sweeney and her character Cassie Howard after the latest episode featured several controversial political remarks that quickly sparked debate online.
Season 3 episode 5, titled “This Little Piggy”, aired on HBO on May 10 and centred heavily on Cassie’s growing career as an OnlyFans creator.
During the episode, Cassie appears on several podcasts discussing modern masculinity and gender roles while defending conservative-leaning views.
“I just feel like American men have been treated like second-class citizens,” Cassie says during one interview. She later adds: “Well, in the past, men used to be hunters and gatherers and protectors, but now they’re being forced to walk around on their tippy toes.”
The episode escalates further when Cassie argues, “If a man today were to say that he wants a girlfriend who could cook or clean, he might as well be screaming the N-word.” In another exchange, after being told she “sounds like a Democrat”, Cassie replies “I’m not ret*rded”.
Following the episode’s release, viewers on social media claimed Sweeney appeared to be “method acting”, referencing previous controversies involving the actress and perceived political affiliations.
One viewer wrote: “Sydney Sweeney was method acting,” while another posted: “Cassie being a Republican is just Sydney Sweeney being herself.”
The renewed discussion follows backlash surrounding Sweeney’s 2025 American Eagle campaign, which used the slogan “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”, playing on the words “jeans” and “genes”. Critics accused the campaign of invoking eugenics imagery, allegations both the actress and the company denied.
In previous interviews, Sweeney dismissed attempts to politicise the advertisement. “I know who I am. I know what I value. I know that I’m a kind person,” she told GQ.
The actress also clarified in a 2025 PEOPLE interview that she did not support the interpretations some viewers attached to the campaign.
