Michael Rapaport Defends Sydney Sweeney Amid Backlash
Michael Rapaport has spoken out in defense of actress Sydney Sweeney, who recently faced criticism following an advertisement for American Eagle Jeans. Rapaport referred to the backlash as “out of control,” asserting that the attention the ad received was for the wrong reasons.
He shared his unfamiliarity with Sweeney prior to the controversy, stating, “I didn’t know her, I hadn’t met her, and I hadn’t even seen an episode of ‘Euphoria.’ I was aware of her celebrity status and the surrounding commercial drama, but I recently learned she’s a registered Republican.” He expressed disbelief over how swiftly some people labeled her after the ad campaign. “This is a young girl, just 27, being bullied without mercy. Her team meticulously prepared for that American Eagle campaign, and now there are accusations thrown around, calling her a Nazi,” he said.
Rapaport took aim at the tendency to attack female celebrities specifically, saying, “People love to bully them. Who even cares about her voting registration? Let’s just leave everyone alone. If you don’t like someone, don’t engage. It’s not necessary to spread negativity.”
Following the ad’s release, Sweeney made her first public appearance at a screening for her film “Americana.” While attending, she was heckled by a protester who shouted, “Stop advertising, it’s racist!” in reference to her American Eagle campaign.
The ad itself, which included the slogan “Sydney Sweeney is Great Jeans,” garnered mixed reactions. In one segment, Sweeney stated, “The genes are passed on from parents to offspring, often determining characteristics such as hair color, personality, and even eye color. Jeans are blue.” Some people criticized this wording as being problematic, while others praised her for resisting what they described as “woke” narratives.
Despite the backlash, American Eagle stood by Sweeney, albeit they removed the controversial video from their social media. The brand stated, “The phrase ‘Sydney Sweeney has great jeans’ refers simply to jeans, a sentiment we’ve expressed before. We aim to celebrate the diverse ways customers wear AE jeans with confidence.” As of now, Sweeney has yet to address the criticisms directly.
