Sydney Sweeney defended as Sharon Stone says, ‘It’s hard to be hot’

(NewsNation) — Sharon Stone has jumped to Sydney Sweeney’s defense after she faced backlash over her American Eagle Jeans campaign.  

The “Basic Instinct” actress attended Variety’s Power of Women LA event on Wednesday, where Sweeney was an honoree, and said that it’s fine to use being “hot” to get what you want.  

“It’s okay to use what mama gave you. It’s really fine,” Stone told Variety senior entertainment writer Angelique Jackson.  

She added, “It’s hard to be hot, and I think we all know that. It’s really okay to use every bit of hotness you have — right here, right now — and go for whatever that is,” she said. “Everybody has their own certain kind of hotness, their own certain thing, and you’re supposed to go for that. Because who are you not to be beautiful? You know, who you are isn’t an accident.”   

Sharon Stone to appear on ‘Euphoria’ 

Stone, who will appear alongside Sweeney in the third season of “Euphoria,” said she spoke to her while controversy erupted over the campaign.  

“Because I was co-godparents with Jane Goodall, I said, ‘When Jane was on the cover of Life Magazine for her work with gorillas, she was in her safari shorts and shirt, sitting with one of the animals that she was working with. Other scientists said, ‘Well, she only got the cover of Life Magazine because she had good legs.’ And Jane said, ‘Well, if I did, then that helped me get more money for my research,’” Stone said.  

“Sydney said, ‘Yeah, and I’m sure I made a billion dollars for the jeans company, and I’m good with that. Because, you know what? I’ll get another job.’”  

‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes’ 

In July, the “Anyone But You” star’s jeans campaign with the jeans company drew backlash over a tagline that some said had racial undertones.    

The campaign featured Sweeney in head-to-toe denim, standing beside a billboard that reads “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes.” She crosses out “genes” and replaces it with “jeans,” highlighting the brand’s signature denim.   

Social media users almost immediately commented on the advertisement, saying it evoked eugenic-era language that promoted the idea that white beauty standards were superior to others.