Sidney Sweeney Responds to American Eagle Ad Controversy
Actress Sidney Sweeney recently faced significant media scrutiny and offered a partial apology regarding her reaction to the controversy surrounding American Eagle’s “Great Jeans” advertisement, which was criticized by certain activists.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together. I’m against hate and division,” Sweeney shared in an interview published this Friday. She also mentioned that, while she typically avoids responding to media coverage, she has come to realize that her silence only exacerbates the divide, rather than healing it.
The star of Anyone But You referenced a previous conversation with GQ, where she resisted pressure from journalists urging her to denounce the advertising campaign as racist.
Reporter Katherine Stoffel pointed out that the criticism primarily revolved around the idea that it was inappropriate for white individuals to joke about genetic superiority, particularly in the current political climate. She offered Sweeney a chance to respond directly to those claims.
Sweeney replied, “When I have an issue that I want to talk about, I think people will listen,” but did not elaborate any further.
Following that exchange, which many commenters found quite polarizing—some even creating memes celebrating her unwillingness to apologize—left-leaning figures continued to criticize Sweeney. Amy Lou Wood, who starred alongside her in the HBO series The White Lotus, liked a post implying that Sweeney’s behavior was racist.
Ruby Rose also weighed in, referring to Sweeney as a “cretin” and linked her poor academic record to her unsuccessful audition for a boxing biopic. Reports later suggested that actress Zendaya felt so offended by Sweeney’s political perspectives that she avoided appearing with her during promotions for the HBO show Euphoria.
Despite the backlash from a small group, Sweeney eventually conceded to accusations of racism and sexism, framing it within the context of what some term the “male gaze.”
The ad campaign ignited discussions about whether the play on “jeans” and “genes” was racist and suggested genetic superiority. Others felt it catered to male sensibilities and recalled problematic elements from Brooke Shields’ 1980s denim campaign.
“I was honestly surprised by the reaction,” Sweeney stated. “I did it because I love jeans and I love the brand. I don’t support the views some people have chosen to associate with the campaign. Many have assigned motives and labels to me that are not true.”
Reflecting on the past, Sweeney aimed to strike a hopeful tone about the future, saying, “I hope this new year focuses more on what unites us rather than what divides us.”
