Hollywood might have a new family connection to celebrate, but the internet isn't exactly bringing a cake. Sydney Sweeney and Marilyn Monroe are ninth cousins once removed, according to a new study by genealogy company MyHeritage. While the discovery sounds like something straight out of a Hollywood family reunion, some people have one rather blunt question: 'Who f*cking cares'?
The reported connection has drawn attention partly because Sweeney, 29, has often been compared to Monroe, whose platinum-blonde image and bombshell status helped make her one of cinema's most recognisable stars. Finding a family link between the two actresses adds an unexpected twist to those comparisons, although sharing an ancestor is a rather different matter from inheriting a Hollywood legacy.
Possible Ancestral Link
Fans have often compared Sydney Sweeney to Marilyn Monroe, pointing to their looks, Old Hollywood-inspired glamour and the public fascination surrounding their personal lives. However, online discussions about a possible ancestral connection between the two have prompted a different reaction, with some users noting that distant family links are not unusual in the US.
One commenter suggested the connection could trace back to an early Massachusetts settler, potentially linking Monroe to many Americans with shared ancestry. Another user checked their own family tree and shared, 'Just checked: Marilyn Monroe is my 8th cousin once removed. Whoopee!'
The reactions highlight how tracing family trees can reveal unexpected connections to famous figures. However, a shared distant ancestor doesn't necessarily make such links rare or indicate a close family relationship.
Lack of Reaction Online
In a Reddit post titled 'They might be related', reactions ranging from curiosity to outright indifference were present. Some users quickly pointed out that distant family connections are hardly unusual, especially when genealogical research reaches back several centuries.
One commenter wasted absolutely no time getting to the point, writing, 'Who f*cking cares'. The remark attracted considerable attention, but some offered a more detailed explanation for their lack of excitement.
Other Redditors questioned how meaningful such distant relationships really are. One pointed out that people can have enormous numbers of distant cousins once family trees extend across several generations.
Apparently, having Marilyn Monroe on your family tree doesn't automatically make her more popular with people who are already side-eyeing her numerous controversies, including sexualised sports ads and an allegedly borderline pornographic Syrn campaign.
A Hollywood Connection, Nine Cousins Far
According to MyHeritage, Sweeney and Monroe share two ancestors, Ezra Perry and Elizabeth Burgess, who were British settlers in 17th-century Massachusetts. The connection runs through Sweeney's father, Steven Sweeney, and Monroe's biological father, Charles Stanley Gifford.
The comparisons have even extended to Sweeney's wardrobe. Her stylist, Molly Dickson, previously confirmed that a look worn at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in February drew inspiration from Monroe's famous 1952 Life magazine cover. Sweeney also made an attempt at old Hollywood glamour at the December 2025 premiere of The Housemaid.
For now, the internet seems more amused by the size of Hollywood's extended family than impressed by its newest member. Some are celebrating the unlikely connection, while others are already checking whether Monroe appears somewhere on their own family trees.
As for Sweeney, the discovery gives her a rather glamorous addition to her ancestry. Just don't expect Reddit to organise the reunion.
