Top Line
American Eagle’s stock saw a boost on Monday after President Donald Trump expressed his support for actress Sidney Sweeney in the midst of controversy surrounding an advertisement.
Important facts
By 3 PM on Monday, shares of American Eagle had jumped nearly 23%. This upward trend started shortly after Trump made a post praising Sweeney’s polarizing ad campaign that had premiered last week.
Earlier on Monday, Trump commented on Sweeney’s marketing initiative, saying, “It’s for the American Eagle, and the jeans are ‘popping off the shelf.’ Go Sydney!”
He also highlighted Sweeney’s recent voter registration as a Republican in Florida, mentioning a report over the weekend that she had registered with the party.
In a comparison, Trump unfavorably likened Sweeney to “Awakened Singer Taylor Swift,” mentioning his dislike for Swift’s criticism of his electoral rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.
On Monday, Trump brought up the recent resignation of Jaguar’s CEO Adrian Mardel, making a vague connection to a backlash against ‘wokeness,’ saying the departure was planned and unrelated to the controversy.
He suggested that Jaguar should take cues from Bud Light, referring to a conservative boycott linked to the company’s special promotion with a transgender influencer.
“The current situation is serious. Wokeness is for losers. Republicans are the future. Thanks for considering this!” Trump added.
Why did Sweeney’s American Eagle ads spark controversy?
In the promotional video for American Eagle, Sweeney wears the brand’s jeans and a denim jacket, making a play on the words “genes” and “jeans.” She stated, “Genes are passed down, influencing traits like hair and eye color. My jeans are blue.” The ad received backlash from critics on social media, some alleging it suggested eugenics. Anthropology professor Shalini Shankar commented that American Eagle’s approach feels like a rebranding effort that uses intentionally loaded language.
How did Sweeney and the American Eagle respond to the controversy?
Sweeney has not yet made a public statement about the backlash against the ad. Meanwhile, American Eagle released a statement over the weekend emphasizing, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”—focusing on her narrative and how to wear their jeans confidently.
Who supported Sweeney in the American Eagle controversy?
Several notable Republicans defended Sweeney’s ads against ‘woke’ culture, including Vice President J.D. Vance, who praised her on a conservative podcast. “My advice to Democrats? Keep telling people that find Sydney Sweeney attractive that she’s a Nazi,” Vance remarked.
Senator Ted Cruz also chimed in via social media, while White House Communications Director Stephen Chong criticized the backlash as “cancelling culture” in a post, calling the reasoning behind it “ridiculous” and “narrow-minded.”
Tangent
Sweeney, recognized for her roles in shows like “Euphoria” and “The White Lotus,” recently attended a screening for her film “Americana.” TMZ captured footage of a heckler labeling Sweeney’s ads as “racist” upon her arrival at the event.
Read more
What has America learned from the situation regarding Sydney Sweeney? Insights from experts suggest various interpretations.
