5,000 bars of soap will be made – just to increase the craze, demand and hype surrounding this product – with 100 people able to win a free bar of soap as part of a giveaway run by Dr. Squatch.

It almost feels like a stunt or joke, but it doesn’t seem to be. And really, why shouldn’t Sydney benefit and profit from the very strangest of cravings from her fans? Why shouldn’t she lean into her freak era? It’s an absolutely perfect response to the oversexualisation she has received from fans (and those who aren’t fans), a means of taking back control of her body, which she has in the past said she feels she has lost control of due to other people’s constant commentary on how she looks.

Sydney’s move may be slightly left of field – a few miles left, some might argue – but she’s not the only celeb embracing her freak these days. Sabrina Carpenter, who faces a rather similar level of scrutiny of her body, has faced criticism for overtly sexual performances made at the BRITs and during her Short ‘n Sweet tour. She also came under fire for referencing Lolita in a W Magazine photoshoot, something stars like Lana Del Rey have done before her.

But really, above all, what Sydney Sweeney is doing as a young woman is embracing her sexuality – her freak. Who are we to judge or stop her from doing so, as well as her right to make money from fans who want to watch, and potentially purchase her bath water too?

And, of course, we would be remiss not to mention arguably the queen of freak (or odd beauty and self-care products, at least), Gwyneth Paltrow, founder and CEO of lifestyle brand Goop.

Paltrow got some serious shade for adding a vagina-scented candle to her brand’s repertoire of luxury goods back in 2020, but the truth is this: people are buying them. There is such hype around the vagina candle, in fact, that a product that originally retailed at $75 is now being sold for $400 on eBay.

Sydney, Sabrina and Gwyneth are all doing something rather freakish, with an empowering edge. They’re reclaiming what is often a misogynistic attitude towards women in the celebrity space (and outside of the celebrity space, if we’re being honest) and hitting back with their freak. And people are lapping it up.

Basically, if society is going to objectify and judge these women as relentlessly as they do, surely they deserve to make some decent dollar out of it?