Artist Speaks Out as Sydney Sweeney’s Hollywood Sign Moment Faces Backlash

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Sydney Sweeney is facing growing calls for legal consequences after a bold advertising campaign near the Hollywood Sign. The actress, known for ‘Euphoria,’ used the famous landmark to promote her lingerie brand, Syrn. This has drawn criticism from artist Zach Fernandez, who goes by Jesushands and was previously prosecuted for altering the sign himself.

In 2017, Fernandez altered the Hollywood sign to say “HOLLYW*ED” and was subsequently arrested and sentenced to community service. He believes this demonstrates a clear double standard, as he faced legal repercussions for what he considered art, while Sweeney’s team, seemingly engaged in a commercial act, avoided immediate consequences. Fernandez argues that the application of the law appears to change depending on a person’s fame or what they are selling.

The artist explained that his work differed from the actress’s by being a form of social and artistic critique, building on the ideas of those who came before him. He felt her performance was simply an advertisement, lacking real artistic purpose. Although his actions later led to the creation of a lifestyle brand, he insists his initial intent wasn’t to promote a company.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, responsible for protecting the iconic Hollywood Sign, has stepped into the recent controversy. They confirmed the production wasn’t approved by them and they weren’t aware of it beforehand. Although the production team obtained a standard filming permit from FilmLA, the Chamber emphasized that this permit doesn’t allow anyone to climb on or touch the sign itself.

Even with legal trouble and public criticism growing, Sweeney hasn’t backed down. She posted a video showing herself and her team secretly scaling the 50-foot-tall landmark at night, where they hung bras across it. In the video, she playfully wonders if they’ll be caught for their actions.

Sweeney is standing by her brand, Syrn, and its goal of celebrating and supporting women. She wants Syrn to truly understand what women want, instead of simply telling them what to want. The brand is built around four different personalities – The Seductress, The Romantic, The Playful, and The Comfy – and offers a variety of sizes to be inclusive of everyone.

The actress is used to being in the public eye, but recently received unwanted attention from Elon Musk. In December 2025, he shared AI-created images online that referenced her appearance after a movie premiere, and fans widely criticized them as inappropriate. This led to a lot of backlash against Musk, with many people pointing out the large age difference between him and the actress.

Okay, let me tell you about Sydney Sweeney’s latest, The Housemaid. It’s a really gripping psychological thriller that’s clearly connecting with audiences – it’s doing great at the box office! Sweeney plays Millie, a live-in maid who quickly realizes things aren’t what they seem in this very wealthy family she’s working for. Paul Feig directs, and he really builds the tension beautifully. Plus, the supporting cast, including Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar, is fantastic. It’s a seriously suspenseful ride, and everyone’s been talking about it – definitely one to check out if you like a good thriller.

Throughout the rest of 2026, actress Sweeney has a lot planned. She’ll be starring as iconic Hollywood star Kim Novak in a new movie called Scandalous!, which will be directed by Colman Domingo.

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2026-01-29 12:14