“Why Is She So Hot?”: Sydney Sweeney Gets Berated By Veteran Female Hollywood Producer
Movie producer Carol Baum took a dig at rising Hollywood star Sydney Sweeney’s acting skills and her physique, asking a class of film students why the 26-year-old actress was considered “hot.” The show-biz veteran’s rants have since been denounced as “internalized misogyny.”
Carol was speaking with the New York Times film critic Janet Maslin in front of an audience of fans following a screening of her 1988 film Dead Ringers starring Jeremy Irons.
- Producer Carol Baum criticized Sydney Sweeney's looks and acting, sparking backlash.
- Her remarks led to debates about internalized misogyny in the film industry.
- Carol questionned Sydney's success despite not having made a film in a decade.
According to the organizer of the event, the Jacob Burns Film Center, the screening took place on April 11 in Pleasantville, New York, USA.
The Daily Mail reported Carol’s harsh criticisms of the Euphoria star, which saw the director say: “There’s an actress who everybody loves now — Sydney Sweeney.”
Producer Carol Baum sparked controversy by publicly criticizing Sydney Sweeney’s acting abilities and appearance
Image credits: sydney_sweeney
“I don’t get Sydney Sweeney. I was watching on the plane Sydney Sweeney’s movie [Anyone But You] because I wanted to watch it.
“I wanted to know who she is and why everybody’s talking about her.
“I watched this unwatchable movie- sorry to people who love this movie – [this] romantic comedy where they hate each other.
“I said to my class, ‘Explain this girl to me. She’s not pretty, she can’t act. Why is she so hot?'”
Image credits: caroltheproducer
As per her profile on the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts’ website, Carol is an adjunct professor within the Division of Film and Television Production.
Carol, whose films include Father of the Bride and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, continued: “Nobody had an answer but then the question was asked, ‘Well if you could get your movie made because she was in it, would you do it?’
“I said, ‘Well that’s a really good question…that’s a very hard question to answer because we all want to get the movie made, and who walks away from a green light?’
“‘Nobody I know. Your job is to get the movie made.'”
Carol teaches at the University of Southern California, where she asked her students: “She’s not pretty, she can’t act. Why is she so hot?”
Image credits: caroltheproducer
The film educator’s brutal assessment sent shockwaves on social media, as a person wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter): “Carol Baum is someone I’ve never heard of until now.
“She hasn’t produced a film in theaters in 10 years and has since settled for producing Dolly Parton Christmas TV movies.
“While Sydney has multiple Emmy noms, it seems Carol’s greatest honor is a Razzie award for worst film in 1993.”
Image credits: sydney_sweeney
“By appearances, it looks like Carol is nearing the end of her life when Sydney’s is just beginning!”
Carol is currently best known for her work with Sandollar Productions, Dolly Parton’s TV and film production company with Sandy Gallin, the singer’s former manager.
Another X user commented: “How sad to hear a veteran female film producer Carol Baum criticize Sydney Sweeney for not being pretty!
“Internal misogyny hides in the least likely places.
“We don’t owe them pretty, it’s time to give em UGLY dammit.”
Sydney starred in Anyone But You, a romantic comedy that Carol strongly disapproved of
Image credits: skglobalentertainment
After appearing in indie movies, Sydney had her breakthrough role in 2019, portraying Cassie Howard in HBO’s drama series Euphoria.
Her performance was applauded by critics, earning her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2022.
The Washington native has since been nominated in multiple awards for various stand-out roles, including Tina Satter’s 2023 thriller-drama Reality, where she starred as US Air Force veteran Reality Winner.
God give me the confidence of top Hollywood producer Carol Baum who said this of Sydney Sweeney “[she’s] not pretty and she can’t act”. Judge for yourself: pic.twitter.com/fpnRxRgiug
— Alec Trevelyan (@LienzCossacks) April 16, 2024
In 2020, Sydney founded and launched her own production company Fifty-Fifty Films, which was recently praised by Drew Barrymore on her talk show earlier this month.
In her appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Sydney explained that her production company was named after her strong belief in collaborations with other talents.
She said: “I think more minds are better in a room than just one, and I believe that everybody deserves a seat at the table.
“So I hope that with my company it allows people to have a voice and be able to just be a part of the bigger picture.”
“People have gotten way too comfortable commenting on women’s looks,” a reader commented
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Not controversial, the producer knows what she's talking about. There are many 'sydneys' flying around.
Melanie Lynskey, Thic, pretty with character.....and she can act.
Load More Replies...
The one saying she's objectively beautiful is wrong though. Beauty is by definition subjective, so plenty of people can (and do) find her not beautiful. About the acting. I feel that's subjective to a point. You can tell who really sucks at acting, but at some point it becomes about taste as well as skill.
You can say that her facial features are not your taste but you can also see that she has a symmetrical face with clear skin. Which is objectively seen as beautiful. So in a way you can say she is beautiful. It depends on your definition of beautiful and the word beautiful in that sentence by s.
Load More Replies... Well, at least this is a step up from "Mexican TV Shows Man's Testicles During Broadcast Of Eclipse." Baby steps, Andy.
I don't know who either of them are and I am going to keep it that way.
I guess today was Andy’s turn to post tabloid c**p, seems as Andy and Binitha takes turns. But she only uploaded it with 30 upvotes to start with, rookie.. Binitha goes +60
Hehe when you have to fake 30 up votes for a job, you need a new job
Load More Replies...
She was honest... if it wasn't for her ( o Y o ) , she wouldn't be famous.
this has nothing to do with "miSoGyNy", this is just an insanely dumb take by a woman i have never heard of looool
Being hot is an attitude, someone who is mathematically beautiful can be seen as average because they aren't comfortable in who they are.
Spent a fun day with Sydney at a pub (lunch till kicking out time) quite accidently. Had no idea who she was (although she was with Matt Smith(Dr. Who etc.)) and found her to be great. Real fun, interesting, fantastic personality. As for not hot, wow how women can be such bitches.
It's doesn't matter if she's pretty or not, having her in a movie works for producers. Personally I've never seen her acting so I can't comment on her talent but one thing I can make comment on is why she is hot. As a female of decidedly average looks I am often found 'hot' because I am confident about who I am. An incredibly mathematically beautiful person can be seen as average mainly because they aren't comfortable with who they are. Basically people need to be comfortable in their own skin and mind. That confidence shows all around that person. And remember confidence is not vanity or arrogance, neither of those are attractive
that was just rude and disrespectful! everyone has their personal preferences when it comes to actors. There are some that are very popular who just don't appeal to me, but I don't go around criticizing them in public. Just because this one producer didn't like a film she watched which had this actress in it is no reason to attack the actress. It might have been a bad script, a bad director, or the actress' less than stellar acting, or a combination of all of these, but many actors have certain movies that didn't do well in their job history. Doesn't mean their other work is necessarily poorly acted. Do better next time.
I mean...I think she's reasonably hot. Definitely can't act though, she's another wooden type. Nothing new in Hollywood really.
I can’t believe there are actual adults that care the slightest
Load More Replies... Not controversial, the producer knows what she's talking about. There are many 'sydneys' flying around.
Melanie Lynskey, Thic, pretty with character.....and she can act.
Load More Replies... The one saying she's objectively beautiful is wrong though. Beauty is by definition subjective, so plenty of people can (and do) find her not beautiful. About the acting. I feel that's subjective to a point. You can tell who really sucks at acting, but at some point it becomes about taste as well as skill.
You can say that her facial features are not your taste but you can also see that she has a symmetrical face with clear skin. Which is objectively seen as beautiful. So in a way you can say she is beautiful. It depends on your definition of beautiful and the word beautiful in that sentence by s.
Load More Replies... Well, at least this is a step up from "Mexican TV Shows Man's Testicles During Broadcast Of Eclipse." Baby steps, Andy.
I don't know who either of them are and I am going to keep it that way.
I guess today was Andy’s turn to post tabloid c**p, seems as Andy and Binitha takes turns. But she only uploaded it with 30 upvotes to start with, rookie.. Binitha goes +60
Hehe when you have to fake 30 up votes for a job, you need a new job
Load More Replies... She was honest... if it wasn't for her ( o Y o ) , she wouldn't be famous.
this has nothing to do with "miSoGyNy", this is just an insanely dumb take by a woman i have never heard of looool
Being hot is an attitude, someone who is mathematically beautiful can be seen as average because they aren't comfortable in who they are.
Spent a fun day with Sydney at a pub (lunch till kicking out time) quite accidently. Had no idea who she was (although she was with Matt Smith(Dr. Who etc.)) and found her to be great. Real fun, interesting, fantastic personality. As for not hot, wow how women can be such bitches.
It's doesn't matter if she's pretty or not, having her in a movie works for producers. Personally I've never seen her acting so I can't comment on her talent but one thing I can make comment on is why she is hot. As a female of decidedly average looks I am often found 'hot' because I am confident about who I am. An incredibly mathematically beautiful person can be seen as average mainly because they aren't comfortable with who they are. Basically people need to be comfortable in their own skin and mind. That confidence shows all around that person. And remember confidence is not vanity or arrogance, neither of those are attractive
that was just rude and disrespectful! everyone has their personal preferences when it comes to actors. There are some that are very popular who just don't appeal to me, but I don't go around criticizing them in public. Just because this one producer didn't like a film she watched which had this actress in it is no reason to attack the actress. It might have been a bad script, a bad director, or the actress' less than stellar acting, or a combination of all of these, but many actors have certain movies that didn't do well in their job history. Doesn't mean their other work is necessarily poorly acted. Do better next time.
I mean...I think she's reasonably hot. Definitely can't act though, she's another wooden type. Nothing new in Hollywood really.
I can’t believe there are actual adults that care the slightest
Load More Replies...
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