Major Hollywood producer Carol Baum sharply criticized rising star actress Sydney Sweeney in conversation with the New York Times, saying “she’s not pretty, she can’t act” about the 26-year-old.

Baum, whose repertoire includes “Father of the Bride,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and other hits of the ‘80s and ‘90s, made the comment during a screening of her 1988 film Dead Ringers.

Learn the benefits of becoming a Valuetainment Member and subscribe today!

“There’s an actress who everybody loves now—Sydney Sweeney,” Baum told New York Times film critic Janet Maslin and their live audience.

“I don’t get Sydney Sweeney. I was watching on the plane Sydney Sweeney’s movie because I wanted to watch it,” referring to her movie Anyone But You.

“I wanted to know who she is and why everybody’s talking about her. I watched this unwatchable movie—sorry to people who love this movie—[this] romantic comedy where they hate each other.”

Baum also blasted Sweeney’s performance in Euphoria, a hit HBO show, retelling a story about her asking her students at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. “I said to my class, ‘Explain this girl to me. She’s not pretty, she can’t act. Why is she so hot?’” she said. “Nobody had an answer.”

However, Baum admitted she would hire Sweeney to get a movie made. “That’s a very hard question to answer because we all want to get the movie made and who walks away from a green light? Nobody I know. Your job is to get the movie made.”


Shane Devine is a writer covering politics and business for VT and a regular guest on The Unusual Suspects. Follow Shane’s work here.

Add comment