Sydney Sweeney criticized for see-through sheer gown during women’s empowerment speech at Variety’s Power of Women event

Sydney Sweeney, the 28-year-old actor who rose to widespread fame on Euphoria and The White Lotus, was honored at Variety’s Power of Women event and used her acceptance speech to talk about being “underestimated” in Hollywood. But much of the public reaction to the evening focused less on her remarks than on the silver, semi-transparent Christian Cowan gown she wore, prompting a loud debate on social media about image, empowerment, and context.

In remarks that several outlets carried in full, Sweeney said she recognized “what it feels like to be underestimated, to have people define you before you’ve had a chance to define yourself,” and described the way her role as boxer Christy Martin changed how she thinks about strength and resilience. “Every one of us has our own fight, and Christy reminds us all that strength doesn’t look loud sometimes, and sometimes it’s just about getting back up again and again, no matter who’s watching,” she told the audience as she accepted the honor.

“She’s literally at the Power of Women podium talking about being underestimated while wearing a dress that puts her body on display more than her message,” one person wrote.
“How are we supposed to focus on her words when the first thing being presented is her chest?” they added.

“Beautiful dress, wrong occasion for it though,” remarked another, while a third wrote, “That dress doesn’t empower but overpower.”

Not everyone agreed that Sweeney’s outfit was inappropriate. On the red carpet, veteran actress Sharon Stone, who posed with Sweeney and later defended her in interviews, told that “it’s OK to use what mama gave ya” and added, “It’s hard to be hot, and I think we all know that. It’s really OK to use every bit of hotness you have, right here, right now, and go for whatever that is.”