Sydney Sweeney Responds to Backlash Over American Eagle Ad: “Many Have Assigned Motives and Labels To Me That Just Aren’t True”

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I’ve been following the conversation around Sydney Sweeney’s new American Eagle ad, and it’s been pretty intense! She recently talked to PEOPLE about all the reaction it’s been getting. The ad, called “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” came out on July 23rd and immediately people started talking about it – it definitely sparked a lot of debate online.

Some people criticized the campaign for using “jeans” in a way that seemed to reference “genes,” calling it racially insensitive. Others felt the ads were overly focused on attracting male attention, and pointed out similarities to a controversial Brooke Shields denim commercial from 1980.

Sweeney was surprised by the backlash she received. She explained that she participated in the campaign simply because she likes the jeans and the brand itself, and doesn’t agree with the opinions some people associated with it. She also stated that people have made incorrect assumptions about her motivations.

She explained that she wants to make her position clear and encourage more understanding and compassion. She’s always worked to unite people and strongly opposes negativity and conflict. While she used to avoid responding to media attention, she now believes that staying silent has actually made the situation worse. She hopes the new year will bring a greater emphasis on common ground rather than differences.

American Eagle responded to the recent criticism on social media, clarifying that the campaign’s focus was always on the jeans themselves and Sydney Sweeney’s personal story of confidence and style. They emphasized that “Great jeans look good on everyone.”

Sydney Sweeney first discussed the advertising campaign in a November interview with GQ magazine for their Men of the Year issue. She admitted she was surprised by the public’s reaction, but shared her genuine love for jeans, explaining, “It was just a jeans ad. I really do love jeans—I practically live in them. I wear jeans and a T-shirt almost every day.”

Even though the campaign sparked some debate, it was a big hit with customers. American Eagle saw record-breaking sales of both men’s and women’s jeans after it launched. The Sydney Jacket, made popular by Sweeney, sold out in just one day, and the Sydney Jean – a special style where all the money earned went to the Crisis Text Line – sold out in a week.

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2025-12-06 10:44