Sydney Sweeney has addressed the recent surge of Sydney Sweeney dating rumors following the release of the 2023 romantic comedy Anyone But You. Despite widespread speculation linking her romantically with co-star Glen Powell, Sweeney firmly dismissed any romantic involvement, emphasizing that their on-screen chemistry was never a promotional tactic but rather a professional collaboration.
In an interview with Variety published on October 27, Sweeney explained that the rumors were entirely driven by the media rather than any intentional suggestion from the actors themselves.
“There was no leaning in, per se,”
she stated, indicating the professional boundaries maintained during the promotional campaign.
Media Amplification of Unfounded Romance Stories
The frenzy of dating rumors escalated as journalists and tabloids amplified every interaction between Sweeney and Glen Powell during the film’s publicity, although the two kept their relationship strictly professional. At the time, Sweeney was engaged to businessman Jonathan Davino, which further underscored the lack of a romantic link.
She remarked on the exaggerated attention their proximity received:
“The tabloids and journalists just created it and kept going,”
Sweeney said.
“Even if we were just standing next to each other, it was, ‘They’re standing two inches apart!’”
Genuine Friendship Beyond Speculation
While denying a romantic connection, Sweeney highlighted the strong mutual affection and respect she shares with Glen Powell. Their friendship, she said, was genuine and heartfelt beyond any romantic rumors that circulated.
“Glen and I genuinely care for each other and have a love and respect for one another,”
she revealed.
“I love being with him. And I think people just truly saw a really beautiful pairing.”
Sweeney also expressed openness to reprising their roles together should a sequel to Anyone But You materialize.
“We are always open to it,”
she said.
“I think that when the right concept and script come to Glen and I, we will jump in hand-in-hand.”
Glen Powell on On-Screen Chemistry and Off-Screen Reality
Glen Powell previously acknowledged the strong chemistry he shared with Sydney Sweeney on-screen, recognizing that it fueled fans’ desire for a romantic relationship off-screen. In an April 2024 interview with the New York Times, Powell explained how actors sometimes lean into their characters’ dynamics.
“The two things that you have to sell a rom-com are fun and chemistry,”
he said.
“Sydney and I have a ton of fun together, and we have a ton of effortless chemistry. That’s people wanting what’s on the screen off the screen, and sometimes you just have to lean into it a bit—and it worked wonderfully.”
Impact of Rumors on Glen Powell’s Past Relationship
However, not everyone was unaffected by the swirling dating rumors. Glen Powell’s ex-girlfriend, Gigi Paris, ended their three-year relationship in 2023 and publicly addressed the strain caused by media speculation linking Powell with Sweeney. On the Too Much podcast in June, Paris expressed frustration over the public exposure.
“I just wanted respect, especially if it’s gonna be public,”
she said.
“Don’t make an ass out of me.”
Powell responded to Paris’s statement by acknowledging her perspective. In a September interview with GQ, he said,
“I will always have nothing but love for her and respect for her. Everybody’s always going to have their own narrative on things and all that. And she’s welcome to it.”
Examples of Other On-Screen Duos Steeped in Off-Screen Romance Rumors
Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell’s situation is far from unique in Hollywood, where co-stars with palpable chemistry often face dating rumors. Below are notable examples of famous actors whose on-screen relationships sparked similar buzz, despite their real-life friendships or professional boundaries.
Emma Watson and Tom Felton’s Childhood Crush Story
Emma Watson, who portrayed Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, admitted to developing a crush on her co-star Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy, during filming. At the 20th anniversary special, Watson shared,
“I used to come in every day and look for his number on the call sheet, it was No. 7, and if his name was on the call sheet, it was an extra exciting day.”
She also conveyed Felton’s friendly view of their dynamic:
“He was three years above me and so for him he was like, ‘You’re like my little sister.’”
Despite the nostalgia and fans hoping for a real-life romance, Watson downplayed those wishes in a British Vogue interview, saying,
“We speak most weeks, and we just think it’s sweet.”
Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer’s Mutual Respect
Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer, famous for playing Rachel and Ross on Friends, revealed that during the show‘s first season they each had feelings but chose not to pursue a relationship, respecting existing boundaries.
Schwimmer explained,
“At some point, we were both crushing hard on each other, but it was like two ships passing because one of us was always in a relationship, and we never crossed that boundary. We respected that.”
Aniston recalled,
“Honestly, I remember saying one time to David, ‘It’s going to be such a bummer if the first time you and I actually kiss is going to be on national television.’ And sure enough, the first time we kissed was in that coffee shop.”
She concluded that their affection was channeled fully into their characters rather than a real romance:
“We just channeled all of our adoration and love for each other into Ross and Rachel.”
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s Lifelong Bond
Fans have long admired Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s enduring friendship, which began with their 1996 film Titanic. Despite years of public admiration and speculation, their relationship remains a strong platonic connection. Winslet described it as “bonded for life” when speaking to The Guardian. Their consistent public support for each other has made their friendship iconic, transcending any romantic rumors.
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s Powerful On-Screen Connection
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s intense chemistry in 2019’s A Star Is Born captured audiences and sparked dating rumors, despite both having other partners at the time. Gaga said their connection was immediate:
“the second that I saw him.”
Following their Oscar performance of “Shallow,” Gaga addressed the speculation, telling Jimmy Kimmel,
“Yes, people saw love and—guess what—that’s what we wanted you to see.”
Cooper later clarified in a 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter that their intimacy was part of the acting:
“They kind of fall in love in that scene in the film. It’s that explosive moment that happens to them on a stage in front of thousands of people…It would have been so weird if we were both on stools facing the audience.”
Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves’ Longstanding Friendship
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock have been the subject of dating gossip since their work on the 1994 film Speed, yet both have consistently denied any romantic involvement. Bullock told Esquire,
“Keanu’s a guy who, I feel like, is friends with every woman he’s ever dated. I don’t think there’s anyone who has something horrible to say about him. So maybe we could have survived. I don’t know. But we didn’t have to survive anything.”
She recounted Reeves’s thoughtful gesture of gifting her champagne and truffles after filming, highlighting their camaraderie:
“I just thought you might want to try champagne and truffles, to see what it’s like.”
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone’s Enduring Friendship
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone have portrayed multiple romantic roles without dating in real life. Stone referred to Gosling as a “dear, wonderful friend” during a 2018 festival Q&A, stating,
“I can’t even imagine what my life would be without Ryan.”
She also joked about their many collaborations, saying,
“He has a restraining order against me now.”
Gosling praised their partnership, noting that their familiarity allowed them to bring out the best in each other:
“I think it brings the best out of us because you know one another, and you are able to help each other in a way that you can’t if you’re strangers.”
John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer’s On-Set Close Bond
Known as Jim and Pam on The Office, John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer shared exceptional on-screen chemistry. Fischer once said,
“There’s like a real part of me that is Pam and a real part of him that’s Jim and those parts of us were genuinely in love with one another.”
Nevertheless, their real relationship did not mirror their characters’.
Krasinski described their connection as an honor and clarified misconceptions:
“I think we both feel it’s such an honor to be a part of that relationship. As far as how she was quoted about saying we were ‘genuinely in love,’ I think that was taken wildly out of context and I feel bad for her. We’ll always have the teapot.”
Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence’s Long-Standing Rumors
Bradley Cooper’s on-screen collaborations with Jennifer Lawrence sparked dating stories for years. When asked by Howard Stern about the rumors in 2015, Cooper responded bluntly,
“Never. It’s just not the way we are together.”
He similarly denied any romance during the 2013 Golden Globes, responding,
“Oh my god. That’s very funny. No, my God, no.”
Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson’s Professional Distance
Though Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson starred in the 2006 film How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, they never pursued a relationship off-screen. McConaughey acknowledged in an October 2020 Howard Stern interview that he preferred to maintain professionalism with co-stars.
“Maybe we had certain crushes on each other at certain times but we always just kept it professional,”
he said.
George Clooney and Julia Roberts’ Close Platonic Friendship
George Clooney and Julia Roberts have shared undeniable chemistry both on and off camera, appearing together in films like Ocean’s Eleven. Their relationship remains strictly friendly, highlighted by Clooney’s generosity in hosting Roberts’s family at his Lake Como estate. Their camaraderie continues to captivate fans without romantic implications.
Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen’s Enduring Friendship
Co-hosts Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen have been subjects of dating rumors despite maintaining a close friendship. When questioned by Howard Stern, Cohen said,
“I just think it’s not what our relationship is based on. We’re just friends. That’s not a part of it. I think, at this point, we know each other too well. We’re not attracted to each other in that way.”
They first met via a blind date setup more than 25 years ago. Cooper recounted on The Tonight Show,
“I knew within 45 seconds I was never going on a date with Andy Cohen,”
recalling how Cohen’s inquiry about his mother broke an unspoken dating rule.
Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Close Friendship
Though fans admired the pairing in the 2009 film (500) Days of Summer, Joseph Gordon-Levitt admitted dating co-star Zooey Deschanel would be awkward. He told Playboy,
“Zooey and I just think it’s funny… We’ve been friends for 10 years.”
Zac Efron and Ashley Tisdale’s Sibling-Like Bond
Before Zac Efron’s relationship with Vanessa Hudgens was public, fans speculated about a romance with Ashley Tisdale, fueled by his guest appearance on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Tisdale referred to Efron as a “brother/best friend” and humorously recalled an uncomfortable on-screen kiss, saying,
“It was the worst because he is like my brother.”
She described the moment,
“I closed my mouth so fast. I was like, ‘This is Disney Channel, we don’t kiss like that on Disney Channel!’”
Their friendship remains strong despite past rumors.
Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman’s Lifelong Friendship
Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman, who played Chad and Taylor in High School Musical, remain close friends years after their roles as teen sweethearts. Reuniting for the 2021 Lifetime film A Christmas Dance Reunion, Bleu expressed his excitement:
“After 13 years it felt like coming home working and dancing with [Monique] again.”
Coleman sees potential for their partnership to grow onscreen, telling People,
“I honestly pray that we get to do more things together because we have that sort of spark that Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan had, and Leo and Kate, and Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling… I really feel like we have that potential as well and I’d like to see that happen.”
David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson’s On-Set Tension
Despite portraying Mulder and Scully on The X-Files, David Duchovny admitted conflict behind the scenes. He told Metro UK,
“Familiarity breeds contempt. It’s nothing to do with the other person. We used to argue about nothing. We couldn’t stand the sight of each other.”
Still, fans wished for a romance, spurred by a viral photo from a 2021 lunch date. Duchovny joked to People,
“I was told there was a big reaction to it! I never get that stuff, but it’s really cool that people are interested after all these years.”
Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson’s Close Working Relationship
Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson featured as superheroes in multiple Marvel movies without dating off-screen. Johansson described their connection as the result of time and trust:
“It’s really a result of 10 years of knowing somebody and being able to have a kind of intimacy with them that I think you get from just spending a lot of time with somebody and knowing their soft underbelly,”
she told Entertainment Weekly in March 2020.
These examples illustrate how intense on-screen chemistry often provokes speculation about relationships that do not exist beyond professional friendship. Sydney Sweeney’s insistence on her platonic connection with Glen Powell reflects a broader pattern among actors balancing public interest with private realities. As the buzz settles, fans may look forward to future projects featuring these talented performers working together without conflating fiction with real life.
