Sydney Sweeney is finally talking about the whirlwind surrounding her recent American Eagle denim campaign. And trust us, it’s been quite the storm.
The ad, which launched in July, was meant to celebrate “great jeans” but quickly turned into a social media firestorm. Sweeney’s line, a playful pun on “genes” and “jeans,” had her saying: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue.”
But many online weren’t laughing. Social media users quickly jumped on the ad, claiming it had uncomfortable undertones linked to eugenics, a discredited, racist idea about controlling human genetics. Memes, hot takes, and angry tweets circulated faster than you could say “denim drama.”
The controversy took an unexpected twist when former President Donald Trump and members of his administration came to Sweeney’s defense. And soon after, her political affiliation made headlines that Sweeney is a registered Republican. Suddenly a simple jeans ad was tangled up in politics, race debates, and a whirlwind of online opinions.
Speaking to ‘People’ magazine, Sweeney admitted she was shocked by the reaction. “I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand,” she explained. “I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign. Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true.”
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She added, “Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together. I’m against hate and divisiveness.”
“Recently I have come to realise that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it. So I hope this new year brings more focus on what connects us instead of what divides us,” she said.
American Eagle, meanwhile, has stood firmly behind their star. “‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story,” the brand said in a statement. “We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
It’s a case of one small wordplay causing a big splash but Sweeney seems ready to steer the conversation.