Sydney Sweeney Addresses Backlash from American Eagle Ad (Exclusive)
Sydney Sweeney remains unfazed by the backlash surrounding her controversial American Eagle advertisement.
According to an exclusive source for Us Weekly, “Sydney thinks the entire situation has been exaggerated. She’s channeling her focus into her work, including returning to the set with her Euphoria family.” (Filming for the highly anticipated third season of the HBO series, where Sweeney portrays the beloved high schooler Cassie Howard, kicked off earlier this year.)
Us Weekly has reached out to Sweeney’s representative for further comment.
The 27-year-old actress faced criticism after appearing in a July 23 campaign for American Eagle, showcasing a denim jacket and pants alongside the double entendre tagline “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.”
Nearly right after its launch, the advertisement instigated discussions regarding race and beauty ideals because of its clever wordplay on “genes,” which some detractors interpreted as a reference to eugenics, a notoriously discredited theory suggesting that humanity can be enhanced through selective breeding.
Although Sweeney hasn’t commented publicly on the matter, American Eagle stood by its advertisement in a statement on Friday, August 1.
“‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ has always centered around the jeans. Her jeans. Her story,” the retailer expressed via an Instagram post. “We will persist in celebrating how everyone showcases their AE jeans with confidence in their own unique way. Great jeans look fantastic on everyone.”
Numerous celebrities and public figures have also taken to social media to express their views on the campaign, including President Donald Trump.
Gabby Windey, Doja Cat, President Donald Trump, and several other stars have offered mixed responses to Sydney Sweeney’s controversial American Eagle advertisement. Following her appearance in the July campaign, which cleverly plays on the double meaning of the words “genes” and “jeans,” the ad faced backlash from social media users who felt it endorsed eugenics and […]
“Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, possesses the ‘HOTTEST’ ad currently,” Trump, 79, remarked on his Truth Social platform on Monday, August 4, alluding to the White Lotus actress’s publicly accessible voter registration records that gained attention amid the controversy.
“It’s for American Eagle, and the jeans are ‘flying off the shelves,’” he added. “Go get ’em Sydney!”
This isn’t the first time Trump has been mentioned in relation to Sweeney. In 2022, the Emmy nominee hosted a 60th birthday celebration for her mother where attendees wore red hats referencing the president’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, resulting in online backlash.
“You guys, this is wild,” Sweeney expressed on X at that time. “An innocent celebration for my mom’s milestone 60th birthday turned into an absurd political statement, which was never intended. Please stop making assumptions. Much love to everyone and Happy Birthday Mom!”
Sydney Sweeney is familiar with the red carpet scene. From daring sheer gowns to figure-hugging designs, the Euphoria actress consistently impresses with her stunning red carpet appearances. One of her most talked-about fashion moments occurred at the 2021 People’s Choice Awards, where she radiated Old Hollywood elegance in a black velvet […]
Later in the same year, the Anyone But You star expressed to British GQ her frustration regarding the public’s reaction to the birthday party.
“Honestly, it feels like there’s nothing I can say that would help shift the narrative,” she remarked. “It’s spiraled beyond control, and I doubt anything I say can bring it back to a reasonable conversation.”
Sweeney added, “I see comments like, ‘She needs media training.’ Why? Do you want to see a robot?”
