Sydney Sweeney Fires Back at Mostly Female Critics Regarding Her Bathwater: “They All Loved the Idea of Jacob Elordi’s Bathwater”
Sydney Sweeney is no stranger to the headlines, but lately it hasn’t been for her work on TV or film. The “Euphoria” star has been making waves for her bold marketing moves, most recently with a soap brand that features, yes, her actual bathwater.
While she stayed quiet on the backlash over her American Eagle jeans commercial, Sweeney has been much more vocal about this latest controversy.
In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, Sweeney discussed the reaction to her new product, Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss, a limited-edition soap made in partnership with Dr. Squatch.
The product, aimed at men, sold out in seconds and sparked online criticism. Sweeney believes some of the pushback was sexist. She told the publication, “It was mainly the girls making comments about it, which I thought was really interesting. They all loved the idea of Jacob Elordi’s bathwater.”
Her point references a similar product tied to her “Euphoria” co-star Jacob Elordi. In 2024, after a scene in the film Saltburn went viral, a candle infused with Elordi’s bathwater hit social media.
The moment was controversial but generated memes and buzz, with almost no major backlash. The double standard hasn’t gone unnoticed, as Sweeney highlighted the difference in reactions between male and female celebrities.
Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss is Sweeney’s second collaboration with Dr. Squatch. The campaign comes after her viral ad for the brand last October, which showed her in a bubble bath addressing “dirty little boys.”
On Instagram, Sweeney teased the new product, writing, “You kept asking about my bathwater after the @drsquatch ad… so we kept it. Introducing Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss! A very real, very limited-edition soap made with my actual bathwater.”
The soap itself is marketed as a unique combination of nature and personal indulgence. According to the Instagram post, it blends outdoor scents like pine, Douglas fir, and earthy moss with Sweeney’s bathwater to create what the brand calls “the ultimate blend of outdoor serenity with refreshing notes…and a touch of Sydney’s very own bathwater.”
While critics have been quick to mock, Sweeney is embracing the attention. She points to the gendered reactions as evidence of a double standard in how celebrity marketing stunts are received.
Male stars can sell bathwater or similar novelty products and often get humorous or admiring reactions, while female stars face more scrutiny or outright ridicule.
Despite the controversy, Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss sold out quickly, proving that there is a market for bold and playful celebrity products. Sweeney has turned what could have been a PR nightmare into a conversation about social media, gender, and celebrity culture, showing that she’s not afraid to push boundaries in both entertainment and marketing.
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