Actor Implies Sydney Sweeney Affair Rumors Were Elaborate Marketing Play

It appears Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell played everyone like a fiddle ahead "Anyone but You" being released.

The rom-com with Sweeney and Powell was one of the most popular movies of the past year. I must admit that it was pretty entertaining, and it's not even a genre I generally watch.

One of the reasons there was so much interest around the movie was because of chatter that there might be something extra going on behind the scenes.

It was all pretty scandalous, seeing as how Sweeney is engaged to her fiancé Jonathan Davino. It all turned out to be nonsense…..but none of it was accidental.

Glen Powell addresses Sydney Sweeney affair rumors.

"The two things that you have to sell a rom-com are fun and chemistry. 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. Sydney is very smart," Powell said in an interview with The New York Times.

Sweeney appeared to back up that version of events by admitting she was heavily involved in all marketing aspects of the movie.

"I was on every call. I was in text group chats. I was probably keeping everybody over at Sony marketing and distribution awake at night because I couldn’t stop with ideas. I wanted to make sure that we were actively having a conversation with the audience as we were promoting this film, because at the end of the day, they’re the ones who created the entire narrative," the young star added.

Glen Powell addresses rumors of relationship with Sydney Sweeney. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/WireImage)

There you have it, folks. Everyone got played, and played very well. The affair rumors dominated the gossip mill for a long time ahead of the movie being released and even after it was.

Sweeney poked fun at the situation on "Saturday Night Live," and Powell has also debunked them. It just goes to show how marketing is meant to manipulate people. The target demographic for rom-com films loves to gossip. It's the entire point of the genre.

Powell and Sweeney leaned into the rumors, it sent hype around the film skyrocketing and the rest is history. "Anyone but You" made more than $200 million at the box office against a budget of around $25 million. It was a massive commercial success.

And all that had to happen was for the media to be tricked into spreading fake news in order to gin up interest. Well done, Sweeney and Powell. Seriously, check out the movie if you haven't already. It's definitely better than you might expect. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.