Women’s underwear hanging from Hollywood Sign in LA... Controversy over unauthorized stunt by ‘problematic actress’

[Financial News] Sydney Sweeney, 29, a Hollywood star who previously sparked accusations of racism over a jeans ad slogan, is again under fire after it emerged that she recently trespassed at the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles (LA) to film an advertisement for her own underwear brand.
According to People magazine, TMZ and other U.S. entertainment outlets on the 28th, Sweeney climbed onto the Hollywood Sign structure on Mount Lee in central LA a few days ago and hung a string of bras across it, draping them like Christmas tree decorations.
Sweeney posted a video of the stunt on her social media. The footage shows Sweeney and her team loading a black duffel bag full of underwear into a car, driving along winding hillside roads toward the base of the Hollywood Sign, and Sweeney herself climbing onto the sign, wrapping it with bras and celebrating afterward.
At the end of the video, the logo of Sweeney’s lingerie brand appears. Citing sources, TMZ reported that she carried out this stunt to shoot a promotional video for a lingerie line she is preparing to launch.
However, it was revealed that Sweeney did not obtain prior permission to climb onto the Hollywood Sign structure. The outlet reported that she could face a complaint from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which owns the structure, on charges including trespassing and attempted property damage.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce stated, "We are investigating under what authority Sweeney and her crew accessed the structure." Sweeney’s side has not responded to media requests for comment.
Last July, Sweeney appeared in an advertisement for U.S. clothing brand American Eagle Outfitters and faced criticism that the slogan "Sydney Sweeney has great genes" promoted racism. The brand was seen as deliberately courting controversy through so-called "noise marketing" by playing on the similar pronunciation of "jeans" and "genes."
At the time, then-President Donald Trump even weighed in, writing, "Republican Sydney Sweeney just put out the hottest ad right now," and, "Jeans are flying off the shelves. Keep it up, Sydney!" further fueling the controversy.
Sweeney initially remained silent, but in a media interview last December she belatedly expressed opposition to hate. "I only did it because I love jeans and that brand," she said, adding, "I do not support the views that some people tried to associate with that ad."


moon@fnnews.com Moon Young-jin Reporter