New York endured a dose of pure internet chaos on Tuesday night when Lionsgate rolled out the red carpet for “THE HOUSEMAID” at 787 on Seventh, and social media quickly exploded. The night started off fancy with a touch of elegance, featuring a pre-reception at The Edition Hotel, before escalating to cinematic chaos the instant cameras captured Sydney Sweeney.
Just minutes later, social media were locked in a virtual brawl, swaying wildly between adoration, hunger, and criticism.
One fan screamed, “The first thing that came to my mind was Emma Frost when I saw this.” One said, “She is a star… There’s no doubt… modern-day Marilyn Monroe.”
A third went fully melodramatic, owning up to having said, “I’d sell out my whole bloodline for her.” They became Olympians of a thirst: “Damn it, I’m on my knees,” one user confessed, while another gave a more moderate but equally dramatic version: “I’m honestly in awe of this whole look!!!”
But not everyone loved Sweeney’s red carpet look.
One commenter lashed out, “Still upset that they botched the real-life adaptation of The Housemaid by casting Sydney Sweeney,” and another threw shade directly from the cheap seats with, “Other than her huge rack, she is below average, tho the racks make her average. If you go out, you’ll find hundreds of women better than her.” Then it got political speculation, with one tweet saying: “Deeply unfortunate she’s actively trying to bring in the right-wing crowd.”
Put another way, it was a typical night on the internet.
The vibe inside the theater was glossy and filled with Hollywood royalty. Sweeney was joined by co-stars Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, and Michele Morrone, while the director Paul Feig took victory laps with producer Todd Lieberman and production banner Hidden Pictures. Feigco’s Laura Fischer, the bestselling author and executive producer of the movie, and Freida McFadden, whose novel inspired the film, were also in attendance.
Rebecca Sonnenshine, the screenwriter and executive producer, and Carly Elter added to the creative brain trust, keeping the deal tight. Backing cast members Amanda Joy Erickson, Megan Ferguson, Indiana Elle, Ellen Tamaki, and Sarah Cooper arrived and took over, turning the carpet into a reunion-level event. And then the surprise that enveloped them all.
