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Sydney Sweeney has proven to be one of Hollywood's fastest-rising stars, but her latest cover for The Wall Street Journal Magazine has sparked a storm of mixed reviews on social media. The Euphoria star swooned the magazine in a scorching denim ensemble that was the instant talk of the town among fans and pundits. What was potentially a celebratory moment of her cementing herself as a modern style icon was a trending argument on social media.
From what she wore to the vibe of the shoot itself, the pictures summoned comparisons, criticism, and admiration in equal proportions. The internet couldn't resist weighing in, marveling at her rise from Hollywood to mainstream stardom, and others wondered if the styling itself was complementary. Most riled, however, was whether Sweeney was appropriating Rihanna, with one viral comment bluntly declaring, "She wants to be Rihanna so bad."
She wants to be rihanna so bad 💔
Sydney Sweeney on The Wall Street Journal Magazine cover
The photos uploaded online soon went viral on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, where thousands of followers dissected every detail. To most of the fans, the cover epitomized Sydney Sweeney's growing supremacy not just as an actress but as a trendsetter in the celebrity and fashion world. Meanwhile, others maintained that the look of the shoot crossed too far into cliché, inviting the inevitable comparisons to Rihanna, an artist whose style and fashion presence are the gold standard.
As with most celebrity moments online, the reactions ran the full spectrum of humor, shade, and unapologetic stanning. Some users took lighthearted digs at the denim styling. One quip that stood out read: “I have better jeans than her.”
I have better jeans than her
Others countered that claim with equal force, as another chimed in: “No one has better jeans than her.” The playful back-and-forth highlighted just how easily Sydney Sweeney’s cover turned into a memeable cultural moment.
No one has better jeans than her
The comparisons didn’t stop at Rihanna either. Another viral take noted a resemblance to her Euphoria co-star Hunter Schafer, with one user pointing out: “Why does she kinda look like Hunter Shiefer here?” While it may have been meant casually, the comment fueled more chatter about how her appearance shifts depending on styling and context.
Why does she kinda look like hunter shiefer here?
Of course, not all remarks leaned critical. Plenty of fans came to her defense and celebrated her milestone moment. One supporter proudly wrote: “Sydney stays winning Hollywood to Wall Street.”
Sydney stays winning Hollywood to Wall Street.
Another added: “Sydney is really that girl,” showing that for every skeptic, there were admirers ready to applaud her success.
It ultimately mattered not that Sydney Sweeney's Wall Street Journal Magazine cover perfectly encapsulated the paradox of trying too hard, as its design was doing precisely what many contemporary celebrity fashion shoots try to do: provoke debate, polarize opinion, and keep the star very much in the public eye. Whether folks loved the denim look or scoffed at it, the fact that the photos were a viral watercooler proves that Sydney Sweeney's power cannot be ignored. Perhaps she didn't attempt to be compared to Rihanna, but only the chatter makes her officially a figure the world can't help but observe.
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