Sydney Sweeney addressed online controversies, including backlash from her American Eagle ad campaign, in a recent interview, highlighting the ongoing debate around race and beauty standards in advertising.
Sydney Sweeney, a 27-year-old actress known for roles in ‘Euphoria’ and ‘Anyone But You’, discussed her experiences with internet feedback in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published on August 20, 2025. She emphasized the importance of engaging with audience conversations, even when facing criticism.
The controversy stems from an American Eagle advertising campaign launched in July 2025, featuring Sweeney with the slogan ‘Sydney Sweeney has great jeans’. The play on words between ‘jeans’ and ‘genes’ sparked accusations on social media that the ad promoted eugenics or Nazi ideals, due to Sweeney’s blonde hair and blue eyes being highlighted in a context that some interpreted as glorifying white genetic traits.
The ad was part of a denim campaign for American Eagle, a popular clothing brand. Sweeney expressed excitement about the partnership, noting her long-time fandom for the brand’s jeans, but the backlash focused on a video clip where she says, ‘Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue.’
American Eagle responded to the controversy on August 1, 2025, with a statement on Instagram defending the campaign as solely about jeans and individual style, asserting that ‘great jeans look good on everyone.’ The brand did not apologize but reinforced its message of inclusivity.
The impact of the controversy has been significant, polarizing opinions along political lines and generating widespread media coverage. It has also drawn comments from public figures like Megyn Kelly, who saw it as an overreaction, and marketing experts like Marcus Collins from the University of Michigan, who criticized the ad’s execution.
Sweeney has not directly addressed the American Eagle drama in depth but has commented on other controversies, such as her Dr. Squatch bathwater soap partnership from June 2025, which also faced backlash. In the interview, she maintained a light-hearted approach, suggesting that online discourse is part of modern celebrity.
Looking ahead, the controversy may influence how brands handle sensitive wordplay in advertising, with increased scrutiny on potential unintended meanings. Sweeney’s career continues with upcoming projects, and American Eagle is likely to monitor the campaign’s reception while emphasizing their inclusive messaging.