SD. Sydney Sweeney’s Reaction to American Eagle Ad Backlash Goes Viral: ‘This Is Insane’
Sydney Sweeney Responds to American Eagle Ad Backlash: Internet Divided Over Her Take
Sydney Sweeney is making headlines again — but this time, not for her acting. The Euphoria star, 28, has addressed the recent backlash over her American Eagle denim campaign in a candid GQ cover interview, sparking fresh debate online.
Earlier this August, Sweeney fronted American Eagle’s campaign titled “Sydney Sweeney Knows Good Jeans”. The ad used a play on words — “jeans” versus “genes” — which a small segment of social media interpreted as referencing the discredited theory of eugenics.
“I did a jean ad. I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans,” Sweeney told GQ. “I knew at the end of the day what that ad was for, and it was great jeans, it didn’t affect me one way or the other.”
The actress explained that her reaction was shaped by her intense work schedule: “I was filming every day. I’m filming Euphoria, so I’m working 16-hour days and I don’t really bring my phone on set, so I work and then I go home and I go to sleep. So I didn’t really see a lot of it.”
Sweeney added, “I think that when I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear,” signaling her intention to speak out on causes she deems important, while leaving the ad controversy behind.
Mixed Reactions on Social Media
The response to Sweeney’s explanation was divided. Some praised her stance:
- “Probably the most successful marketing campaign in the modern era,” one user wrote on X.
- Another added, “She’s the best! Loved the campaign. Brilliant marketing by AE. Crybabies gonna cry.”
- A third said, “She needs to be protected at all costs.”
Others, however, criticized her comments as tone-deaf or dismissive:
- “I can’t tell if she really just clocks in and out to pick up a check when it comes to work that’s not meaningful to her or not,” tweeted one user.
- Another said, “Wish she had been more aware of what would happen but in any other time in history this ad would’ve been uncontroversial.”
- Some suggested her GQ interview “somehow made this whole thing worse” and speculated the controversy might even be a marketing ploy to get fans talking about the brand.
American Eagle Stands By the Campaign
Despite the backlash, American Eagle has defended the campaign. In an August statement, the brand said:
“‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Sweeney herself has avoided discussing the denim controversy on her press tour for Christy, choosing to focus on the film instead. She told Vanity Fair:
“I am there to support my movie and the people involved in making it, and I’m not there to talk about jeans. The movie’s about Christy [Martin], and that’s what I’ll be there to talk about.”
Whether fans see her response as refreshingly honest or out of touch, the American Eagle campaign has undoubtedly kept Sydney Sweeney at the center of conversation — proving that even a jeans ad can spark global debate.
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