Bella Ramsey Sparks Backlash After Comparing Beauty Standards to Sydney Sweeney
Bella Ramsey, the 21-year-old non-binary star of HBO’s The Last of Us, has set off a storm of debate with recent remarks about Hollywood beauty standards—remarks that directly referenced actress Sydney Sweeney.
In an interview with The New York Times on August 10, 2025, Ramsey—best known as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones and Ellie in The Last of Us—criticized the entertainment industry’s obsession with physical appearance. Reflecting on years of online abuse over their looks and gender identity, Ramsey said that conventional beauty is “a construct” and suggested Sweeney, 27, often praised as an industry standard, is “not inherently beautiful” and “less beautiful” than Ramsey in certain ways.
“Beauty standards are a cage, and I’ve been judged for not fitting into it,” Ramsey told the Times. “People like Sydney Sweeney are held up as the ideal, but that’s not inherent beauty—it’s curated. In some ways, I feel I’m more authentic, more real, and yes, even less ‘beautiful’ by design—which is its own kind of truth.”
The comments were quickly interpreted as a personal jab at Sweeney, sparking polarized reactions across social media. Some accused Ramsey of jealousy and pettiness, while others defended the remarks as a critique of systemic bias in Hollywood. “Bella’s speaking truth about a system that uplifts one look over others. It’s not about Sydney—it’s about the bigger picture,” wrote one supporter on X.
Sweeney, who has faced her own share of scrutiny, has been at the center of beauty debates before. Her July 2025 American Eagle jeans campaign was slammed for promoting Eurocentric ideals, with critics accusing it of glorifying whiteness through its “genes/jeans” slogan and imagery. Supporters, however, praised her as a symbol of “natural beauty” in contrast to Hollywood’s heavily altered aesthetic. She also endured body-shaming after releasing training footage for a Christy Martin biopic in late 2024.
Ramsey’s perspective comes against the backdrop of personal struggles with anorexia, autism, and mental health challenges, as well as their decision to delete Instagram and X earlier this year due to relentless trolling. Their critique echoes a broader movement among younger actors—like Millie Bobby Brown—who have spoken out about the media’s fixation on looks over talent.
For now, Sweeney has remained silent on Ramsey’s remarks, with her team emphasizing her focus on upcoming projects, including a rumored role in Avengers: Doomsday. Ramsey, meanwhile, is preparing for The Last of Us Season 2, scheduled for April 2026.
The clash between the two stars has become a flashpoint in an ongoing cultural battle over “pretty privilege,” representation, and the pressures placed on women and non-binary actors in Hollywood. As one X user summed up: “Bella’s point is valid, but dragging Sydney was a choice. Both are talented—why pit them against each other?”