Actress Sydney Sweeney has sparked intense political debate after a photo of her embracing two recently freed Israeli hostages went viral, according to Enquirer (via Yahoo News). The photo, which was shared online by the pro-Israel nonprofit Stand With Us, shows the 28-year-old star standing with her arms around Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or, who had been held captive by Hamas.
The couple recently visited the U.S. after enduring a harrowing ordeal. Argamani and Or were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, when they were attending the Nova Festival in southern Israel. Argamani was rescued in an operation conducted by the IDF in June 2024. Or’s captivity was significantly longer; he was released on October 13, 2025, after more than two years in the hands of the terrorists.
The reaction to the photo was swift and extremely divided, instantly drawing both high-level diplomatic praise and sharp online criticism. Chicago-based Israeli diplomat Itai Biran was quick to chime in, referencing one of Sweeney’s high-profile, and sometimes controversial, brand partnerships. “Turns out it’s not just the jeans that fit well, it’s the values too,” Biran wrote online, giving a clear nod to her American Eagle ads.
Sweeney has definitely put herself right in the middle of a global conversation, and you can expect the debate over her intentions to continue swirling for a while
Fans were also quick to voice their support for the Anyone But You star’s decision to take the photo. Many users saw it as a sign of courage in a highly polarized industry. One fan gushed that she was “Brave enough to stand for what’s right,” while another praised her for not caring about potential career repercussions, writing, “She’s not afraid of being cancelled in Hollywood. Bravo.”
However, not everyone viewed the photo as an act of bravery. Other social media users immediately criticized the actress, suggesting her involvement wasn’t based on any conviction but simply a PR move. One commenter suggested that she has no real political stance at all. “I love how right-wingers have convinced themselves Sydney Sweeney has a coherent political ideology that leans conservative when she’s really just an apolitical ditz that goes wherever the wind blows,” the user commented.
Interestingly, Sweeney isn’t the only person in her immediate circle to meet with the former hostages. Her rumored boyfriend, music manager Scooter Braun, also met with Argamani back in September 2024. Braun, 44, shared his own experience meeting her online, noting how emotional the interaction was.
He shared that he “found myself in tears at the sight of her and found even more resolve in our mission to bring all the hostages home and push for peace and understanding between all people.” Braun also highlighted the resilience of the survivors, adding that Argamani and others “came together to dance again and listen to music in a place that promotes unity.”
Published: Jan 15, 2026 03:00 pm