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Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun Go Public With Central Park Kiss — But Fans Say It Looks “Staged”
It’s official — or at least, it looks that way. Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney and music mogul Scooter Braun were photographed locking lips on a large rock in Central Park, New York City, on November 4. The viral photos showed the pair cosying up in the crisp autumn weather, marking their most public display of affection since dating rumours began in September.
Sources previously said Sydney Sweeney, 28, and Scooter Braun, 44, were “casually dating” after meeting at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s lavish wedding in Italy this past June. Since then, the couple has been spotted holding hands in Los Angeles and attending events together, fueling growing speculation about their romance.
But while their Central Park kiss confirmed what many suspected, social media users had other thoughts — especially about how the moment unfolded.
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Fans Mock “Staged” Kiss as Photos Go Viral
Not long after the pictures surfaced, fans flooded Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) with cheeky commentary, calling the photoshoot “too obvious.” A popular Reddit thread titled “Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun Share a Very Natural, Non-Staged Kiss on a Large Rock in Central Park” quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons.
“It’s funny because this is so obviously staged, but not by anyone who knows how to stage things,” one user joked. Another added, “They’re both looking directly into the camera — it’s giving high school photo day.”
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Others pointed out the awkwardness of the setup, with one fan writing, “The footwear, the pose, the rock — everything feels like PR 101 gone wrong.”
Despite the trolling, insiders insist the relationship is genuine. One source close to Sweeney told PEOPLE that her friends and family are “really happy about this relationship,” describing Braun as someone who “really sees her for who she is beyond all the noise.”
Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun at Central Park, NYC
Hollywood’s New Power Couple?
Both stars are coming off major life changes. Sweeney reportedly ended her long engagement to Jonathan Davino earlier this year, while Scooter Braun finalized his divorce from entrepreneur Yael Cohen in 2022. The former couple share three children.
Professionally, Sydney Sweeney’s star power continues to soar. She’s currently promoting her biopic Christy, based on boxer Christy Martin, hitting theaters November 7. Later this year, she’ll lead the thriller adaptation The Housemaid and return as Cassie Howard in Euphoria’s much-anticipated third season.
Meanwhile, Scooter Braun remains one of the most influential figures in the music industry, known for managing stars like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande.
