Sydney Sweeney is dating Scooter Braun, the music executive whose public dispute with Taylor Swift has become a touchstone in Hollywood culture wars. The 28-year-old Euphoria star is preparing for an Oscar campaign for Christy while the romance unfolds amid ongoing debates about politics, power and who gets a voice in show business.
Sources say the pair began dating after meeting at Jeff Bezos's wedding in Venice in June and grew closer after they returned from the trip. Braun, 44, is divorced with three children. A friend said they are a serious couple and that Braun provides stability as Sweeney navigates a busy career that spans film and television, along with growing business ventures. The couple reportedly spent Sweeney's birthday on a Lake Powell getaway this week.
Raised on the Washington Idaho border, Sweeney has described a difficult but formative path to stardom. Her mother, Lisa, was a defense attorney who left the profession to support her children, while her father, Steve, worked in hospitality. By age 12 she was determined to act and even drafted a five year plan in a PowerPoint presentation outlining her inevitable rise. After years of auditions that yielded little, her family moved to Los Angeles to pursue opportunities. A period of financial strain followed, including a bankruptcy and her parents’ eventual divorce around 2016, experiences she has said strengthened her resolve to succeed in Hollywood.
Her breakout work came with major roles in The Handmaid's Tale and Sharp Objects, followed by a part in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Euphoria propelled her to global fame, and she later played a brash, privileged teen in The White Lotus. She has since built a prolific filmography, including Anyone But You opposite Glen Powell, and a forthcoming thriller The Housemaid with Amanda Seyfried, in which she serves as an executive producer. Oscar buzz surrounds her portrayal of Christy Martin in the hard hitting biopic Christy, which TIFF audiences championed earlier this month. A third season of Euphoria is in the works, as is a role as Kim Novak in Scandalous, a project about the romance between Novak and Sammy Davis Jr. There is even talk of a Barbarella reboot with Sweeney in the title role.
Industry observers note that Sweeney continues to leverage a rare cross generational appeal while cultivating her own production and branding footprint. Her endorsements span luxury fashion and beauty brands, including Miu Miu, Armani Beauty, Kerastase, Laneige, and Baskin Robbins, with additional lineups for lifestyle products. Variety named her to its Women of Power list this week, underscoring the scale of her influence beyond acting alone.
The romance with Braun sits at a volatile crossroads given his contentious history with Swift. Braun is best known for acquiring Swift's master recordings of her first six albums in 2019, a move Swift has described as aggressive and unfair. Swift subsequently re-recorded her early catalog, and she publicly criticized Braun's approach while noting that threats and intimidation targeted her and her team. Braun has said he has faced death threats but that he sought to engage with Swift on business, though those efforts went unanswered. Swift's rights to her music were reportedly bought back earlier this year for as much as 600 million, a development that has reshaped the power dynamics in that long running dispute.
Publishers and industry insiders have cautioned that the coupling could complicate Sweeney's standing with Swift's fan base, known for its vigilance in matters of artist control and rights. Matt Belloni, the editor of the Puck newsletter, wrote that the relationship could be a public test for Sweeney, with potential implications for how fans respond to her alignment in the ongoing culture wars. Still, many analysts expect her star to continue rising, aided by a track record of high profile projects, a strong work ethic, and a growing portfolio of producing credits that extend beyond her on screen work.
Sweeney has been candid in interviews about resisting the notion that Hollywood is defined by political labels. She has acknowledged a private political stance but has largely kept her opinions out of the spotlight, emphasizing preparation and craft in her ascent. The current romance, however, places her squarely at the center of a broader debate about where Hollywood stands in a polarized environment, and how personal relationships can intersect with public perception in the entertainment industry.
As the culture clash in Hollywood intensifies, Sweeney's approach — a blend of classic old Hollywood glamour, modern versatility, and a willingness to push boundaries — may help sustain her momentum even as public conversations around power, politics, and celebrity continue to evolve.