Sydney Sweeney is experiencing renewed criticism following a genealogy study that linked her to the famous Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe. The study revealed that Sweeney and Monroe are ninth cousins, once removed, which added an interesting twist to the long-standing comparisons between the two actresses. This revelation came at a time when Sweeney was already facing negative reactions regarding her Novig sports advertisement.
The genealogy research, conducted by MyHeritage, showed that Sweeney and Monroe’s family lines connect through their fathers. Sweeney’s dad, Steven Sweeney, and Monroe’s biological father, Charles Stanley Gifford, are both descendants of Ezra Perry, a settler from Sandwich, Massachusetts, who lived in the 1600s. Although the connection is very distant, some found it amusing, while others criticized Hollywood for trying to promote Sweeney as a new version of Monroe.
Roi Mandel, the research director at MyHeritage, mentioned that the company wanted to explore their connection due to the frequent comparisons made between the two women. He expressed excitement about the discovery, noting how interconnected people can be.
Instead of celebrating the finding, many internet users mocked Sweeney. One person humorously remarked that, by that logic, they could claim to be related to Pablo Escobar. Another pointed out that being ninth cousins means sharing almost no DNA and joked about how common such a relationship could be.
Critics accused Hollywood of pushing Sweeney into the spotlight as a successor to Monroe and pointed out that the connection might not be significant. Some users noted that many people could likely be ninth cousins without knowing it.
However, a few people welcomed the new family connection, with one commenter suggesting it explained Sweeney’s beauty. This genealogical discovery follows Sweeney’s previous style choices that have echoed Monroe’s iconic looks. For instance, at a film festival in February 2026, Sweeney wore a vintage dress similar to one Monroe had donned for a magazine cover in 1952. She also referenced Monroe at the premiere of The Housemaid in December 2025 and had a hairstyle reminiscent of Monroe’s earlier films at the Governors Awards.
Additionally, Sweeney’s boyfriend, Scooter Braun, has commented on her resemblance to Monroe, with sources reporting that he sees her as the modern version of the star. This comparison fueled more criticism as some online users speculated that the genealogy story was merely another attempt to connect Sweeney with Monroe.
What do you think about the comparisons between Sydney Sweeney and Marilyn Monroe?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Dinara Luz