Months after appearing in an American Eagle advertisement featuring jeans, Sydney Sweeney has addressed the ensuing controversy. In an interview with GQ, the actress, known for roles in Euphoria and White Lotus, expressed her love for jeans and highlighted that she typically wears them daily. The ad sparked unexpected reactions due to a play on words between “jeans” and “genes,” which some online users interpreted as having eugenicist connotations. Eugenics is a discredited notion suggesting human improvement through selective breeding.
American Eagle clarified that the ad focused solely on jeans and not genetics, emphasizing that great jeans suit everyone. Despite widespread media coverage and discourse, Sweeney remained quiet, even after prominent figures like former President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance commented on the ad.
Sweeney acknowledged the impact of the ad on American Eagle’s stock performance, noting the surge in stock value following its release and a subsequent boost after a company earnings call attributed the ad to increased sales and customer attraction. However, amidst her busy filming schedule for Euphoria, Sweeney admitted missing much of the social media backlash.
The actress, who recently premiered the film Christy at the Toronto International Film Festival, expressed confidence that any controversy surrounding her would not deter viewers from experiencing the movie’s powerful message about domestic violence. Sweeney emphasized the importance of remaining open-minded despite online narratives.
