Sydney Sweeney responds to acting criticism from film producer Carol Baum: 'That’s shameful'

Following sharp criticism by film producer Carol Baum, the “Euphoria” star has released a statement after Baum skewered Sweeney’s acting chops during a film screening last week.

While appearing at a screening of her 1988 film “Dead Ringers” at the Jacob Burns Film Center, Baum reportedly told New York Times critic Janet Maslin during a Q&A that she watched Sweeney’s romantic comedy “Anyone But You” during a recent airplane trip.

“I wanted to know who she is and why everybody's talking about her,” Baum said at the April 11 event, according to the Daily Mail. “I watched this unwatchable movie — sorry to people who love this movie — (this) romantic comedy where they hate each other.”

“Anyone But You” stars Sweeney and Glen Powell as ex-flames who begrudgingly reconnect at a wedding in Australia. Released in December 2023, the film went on to gross $218.8 million at the global box office.

“I said to my class, ‘Explain this girl to me,’” Baum, who works as a professor at the University of Southern California, continued. “She's not pretty. She can't act. Why is she so hot?''

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In an emailed statement to USA TODAY Wednesday, a representative for Sweeney blasted Baum’s remarks.

“How sad that a woman in the position to share her expertise and experience chooses instead to attack another woman,” Sweeney’s representative said. “If that’s what she’s learned in her decades in the industry and feels is appropriate to teach to her students, that’s shameful. To unjustly disparage a fellow female producer speaks volumes about Ms. Baum’s character.”

Baum reportedly expressed regret over her criticism of Sweeney, according to TMZ. USA TODAY has reached out to a representative for Baum for comment.

Following their discussion, Maslin addressed Baum’s comments on Sweeney in an X post Tuesday.

“We brought up ‘Anyone But You’ because it’s been the rare smash hit rom-com at a time when they aren’t working,” Maslin wrote. “Not because we wanted to take cheap shots at anyone.”

Coming to Sweeney’s defense, producer Teddy Schwarzman – who worked alongside Sweeney on the film “Immaculate” – praised “The White Lotus” actress’s talent and character on social media.

“I’ll enlighten Ms. Baum that two-time Emmy nominee Sydney Sweeney is not only one of the most talented actresses I’ve worked with, but also incredibly smart, kind and humble,” Schwarzman wrote on X Wednesday. “I’m not sure why someone who claims to still be a producer would make such terribly ugly comments, but I can assure everyone that Sydney is at least beautiful on the inside.”

Sweeney starred in and co-produced “Immaculate,” a psychological horror film released in March. The film grossed $21.3 million worldwide.