Sydney Sweeney recently promoted her lingerie line, Syrn, through a social media video that garnered significant attention from her 26 million followers. The post, which featured Sweeney modeling a white halter bodysuit with a torso cutout, included a playful caption asking, "did you get your @syrn yet?"
While many users expressed admiration for the promotional content, some comments urged the actress to "find Jesus," with one follower writing, "I genuinely hope you find Jesus. No amount of fame or attention compares to the peace and purpose He gives." Others drew parallels between the post and Sweeney's character, Cassie Howard, on the HBO series "Euphoria," noting similarities to Cassie's portrayal as an OnlyFans model in the show's final season.
The timing of the post coincided with renewed discussion surrounding "Euphoria" and its creator, Sam Levinson. Levinson recently addressed criticism over Cassie Howard's character arc, which involved an OnlyFans storyline. In an appearance on "Real Time with Bill Maher," Levinson explained his decision to explore the platform, stating that OnlyFans has become a "massive enterprise" comparable in revenue to Hollywood.
"It's not a niche business, it is a massive enterprise," Levinson said. "And so if you're young, you're going… I don't want to go work in a nine to five at this place or that thing. Well, maybe I can just start taking photos of myself?"
Levinson elaborated that he aimed to explore the "long-term consequences" of such choices, particularly for young people growing up in an era where they are told they are their own brand on social media. He also acknowledged the backlash the show received for Sweeney's sex work scenes, questioning if similar criticism would arise if the show had "affirmed this life" rather than taking a critical look.
"You know, we take a fairly critical look at it. It hollows out the individual," Levinson stated. "You know, you're constantly just depending on the likes and external validation."
Sweeney herself has previously defended her character's storyline, stating in an interview with Vanity Fair, "I'm playing a character." She explained Cassie's motivations as stemming from a "need to be validated by other people" and a lack of self-love, which she understood as influencing her character's arc in season three. Sweeney also shared behind-the-scenes photos of herself in revealing outfits from the show.
Despite the online commentary, the post also received positive reactions. Model and OnlyFans star Livvy Dunne was among those who praised the content, sharing a GIF of Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Wolf of Wall Street."