Sydney Sweeney refutes assumptions about American Eagle ad as 'inaccurate'

Sydney Sweeney has addressed the controversy surrounding her recent American Eagle jeans advertisement, which many criticized as insensitive. In an interview with People on December 5, the 28-year-old Emmy-nominated actress emphasized that she does not share the negative associations that some viewers linked to the campaign. Sweeney described herself as someone who "leads with kindness."

"I was genuinely surprised by the backlash," she said. "I participated because I genuinely like the jeans and the brand. I dont endorse the views that some have attached to the ad. Many assumptions and labels people have assigned to me simply arent accurate."

The ad, released in July, used a wordplay between "jeans" and "genes," with Sweeney stating, "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color." Some critics argued this reference could be interpreted as promoting eugenics, the discredited theory that some genetic traits are superior to others.

Sweeney initially commented on the reactions in a GQ interview on November 4, noting that the criticism "didn't affect me one way or the other." She explained, "I did a jean ad. I wear jeans every day of my life. The response was surprising, but my focus was just on the product."

Despite the public debate, Sweeney remained focused on her work, including filming for Euphoria. She also mentioned the unusual experience of seeing high-profile figures, including former President Donald Trump and politician JD Vance, publicly comment on her advertisement. Trump praised the ad, calling it "fantastic" and noting that the jeans were selling rapidly.

American Eagle credited the campaign featuring Sweeney with boosting their sales and brand engagement. CEO Jay Schottenstein highlighted the campaigns impact, stating that it contributed to increased customer awareness and positive sales trends during the fall season.

Sweeney concluded that while the controversy was unexpected, she remains committed to supporting the brand and standing by her intentions with the campaign.

Author: Ava Mitchell