Glen Powell Says Sydney Sweeney Affair Rumors Helped Sell ‘Anyone But You’: “It Worked Wonderfully”

Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney were not afraid to “lean into” their undeniable chemistry to help sell Anyone But You — even if it meant being the subject of romance rumors.

The movie, which hit theaters in December 2023, ultimately raked in more than $200 million at the global box office and became the highest-grossing R-rated rom-com since Bridget Jones’s Baby was released in 2016.

According to Powell, they can credit some of the film’s success to the rumors speculating that he and his engaged co-star were involved in a secret affair.

“The two things that you have to sell a rom-com are fun and chemistry,” he told the New York Times. “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.”

The rumor mill began circulating during the co-stars’ flirty press tour to promote Anyone But You. However, Sweeney was (and is still) engaged to Jonathan Davino, who produced the movie alongside the Euphoria star through her Fifty-Fifty Films production company. Plus, Powell was still in a relationship with Gigi Paris at the time, though they split after three years together.

Powell previously opened up about dealing with the untrue rumors amid his breakup.

“Well, look, the only reason it made things harder for me to lean into that stuff was that I was going through a very real breakup amidst a promotional tour,” he told Insider in December 2023. “I was with someone that I really loved and cared about and was trying to kind of make sense of a lot of stuff.”

Sweeney, for her part, told Variety that she and her co-star “don’t really care” about the rumors.

“We have so much fun together, and we respect each other so much; he’s such a hard worker, and I’m a hard worker,” she said in August 2023. “We’re excited for the press tour, and I literally just left ADR with him. We talk all the time like, ‘That’s really funny.'”

The White Lotus star even poked fun at the gossip during her March 2 hosting debut on Saturday Night Live.

“Me and my fiancé produced the movie together, and he was there the entire shoot. I just want to let everyone know that he’s the man of my dreams, and we’re still together and stronger than ever,” she said, noting that her fiancé was at Studio 8H to support her.

When the camera cut to Powell smiling in the audience, Sweeney yelled, “No, that’s not my fiancé! He’s in my dressing room!”

Anyone But You is currently streaming on Netflix.