After months of silence, Sydney Sweeney is finally addressing the backlash surrounding her American Eagle campaign, “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans”, which launched on July 23, 2025. The ad instantly went viral—but not for the intended reasons.
The campaign featured Sweeney, 28, in classic Americana imagery: leaning over a white Mustang, holding a German shepherd, and sporting denim looks. A clever wordplay replaced “genes” with “jeans,” which critics quickly labeled racially insensitive and exclusionary. Some linked the visuals to outdated ideals of white femininity and even echoes of white supremacy, sparking nationwide debate.
Breaking her silence in a GQ interview, Sweeney said, “I did a jean ad. I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans. I’m literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life.”
The controversy even attracted political attention. Former President Donald Trump commented, praising the ad for registered Republicans, leaving Sweeney to describe the experience as “surreal.”
Despite the storm, Sweeney maintains her love for fashion simplicity and insists the ad was meant to celebrate her personal style, not ignite a cultural debate.
