Months after Sydney Sweeney’s appearance in an American Eagle advertisement showcasing jeans, the actress has addressed the ensuing controversy in a recent interview with GQ. Sweeney defended the ad, emphasizing her love for jeans and stating that the unexpected reaction did not faze her.
The ad featured Sweeney making a play on words between “jeans” and “genes,” which some interpreted as having eugenicist connotations. American Eagle clarified that the ad was solely about jeans and not genetics, emphasizing inclusivity in their brand messaging.
Despite significant media coverage and discussions online, Sweeney remained mostly quiet, even as prominent figures like former U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance commented on the ad. The actress expressed her surprise at the presidential and vice-presidential responses.
Sweeney acknowledged the positive impact on American Eagle’s stock following the ad’s release and subsequent earnings calls, attributing the boost in sales to the ad campaign. However, she admitted to being largely unaware of the social media backlash, as she was heavily focused on her filming commitments for “Euphoria.”
In addition to her work on “Euphoria,” Sweeney has two upcoming film projects, including “Christy,” which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. When questioned about potential viewer backlash affecting the film’s reception due to the controversy surrounding her, Sweeney remained unfazed, expressing hope that audiences would remain open to the film’s message on domestic violence.