Pop star Halsey has stepped forward to defend Americana, her debut film, after it faltered at the box office. The singer-turned-actress believes the project’s performance was unfairly overshadowed by controversy surrounding co-star Sydney Sweeney’s recent American Eagle advertising campaign.
Americana, a thriller directed by Tony Tost, had been highly anticipated, particularly because it featured Halsey in her first acting role alongside Sweeney and Paul Walter Hauser. However, the film opened to disappointing numbers, earning just $500,000 during its first weekend despite a $9 million budget and a wide release across more than 1,100 cinemas.
At the center of the distraction was Sweeney’s jeans advertisement, which drew criticism for a wordplay on “genes” that many accused of promoting harmful undertones. Halsey argued that the backlash against this unrelated campaign unfairly damaged Americana’s prospects, diminishing the hard work of the cast and crew. She expressed frustration that public discourse focused more on the advertising controversy than the quality of the film itself.
Describing Americana as a well-crafted thriller, Halsey urged fans to give the film a chance, emphasizing that the project deserves recognition on its own merits. She highlighted the efforts of director Tony Tost, calling attention to his feature directorial debut and the dedication of everyone involved in the production.
Meanwhile, Sydney Sweeney has remained silent on the issue, though the online debate around her endorsement deal continues to generate headlines. Director Tost also weighed in on the film’s lackluster numbers, suggesting that movies often outlast the cultural debates they are released into.
Despite the slow start, Americana remains in theaters, and Halsey continues to encourage audiences to judge the film for themselves rather than letting external controversies dictate its success.
