Sydney Sweeney speaks out after American Eagle ‘great jeans’ ad sparks eugenics debate
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Dec 09, 2025, 03:31 IST
Actor Sydney Sweeney publicly addressed the controversy surrounding her American Eagle advertisement, stating she opposes hate and regrets not speaking earlier. In a new interview, she clarified her intentions behind the campaign and discussed plans to be more open with the public.
TL;DR
Sydney Sweeney has finally responded to her silence concerning the American Eagle campaign, stating that she does not endorse any hateful interpretations of the ad and that she wishes she had replied much earlier. Communicating less publicly and more deliberately is what she looks forward to in the next year.
Actor Sydney Sweeney reacted to the scandal of her American Eagle ad by saying that she opposes hate and that she regrets not speaking earlier. In a new interview, she explained her mission in the campaign and talked about the openness plan with the audience.
After a long time without saying anything, Sydney Sweeney has eventually commented on the American Eagle campaign. She told People that she did not accept any reading of the ad that was hateful and that she was sorry for not responding much earlier. She also said that next year she would be speaking less publicly and more thoughtfully.
After months of silence, Sydney Sweeney has finally addressed the controversy surrounding her American Eagle ad. She told People magazine that she wished she had spoken out against the backlash earlier and that she does not change her mind about hating the hateful interpretations of the campaign.
The 28-year-old actress mentioned the issue in her interview, which was released on Friday. She claimed misunderstandings were due to her quietness in the last few months. "I am against hate and divisiveness," she told People. "My silence on this matter has only deepened, not bridged, the gulf."
In July, the advertiser American Eagle unveiled the campaign named "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans." One of the ad visuals shows the "Euphoria" star ripping a pair of denim jeans on a car, by lying. As a voiceover, in the video, she says, "Genes are inherited from parents to children and usually decide things like hair colour, character, and even eye colour. My jeans are blue." By the pun, the Internet users were very angry with it, and the brand's accusers alleged that the company was associating the themes of eugenics and white supremacy with its advertisement.
Sweeney commented that she had no idea that the number of negative comments would be that high. The interview with People magazine, which is for her next film, "The Housemaid," featuring Amanda Seyfried, was the moment for her to clarify her position. "I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand," she said. "I am not the one to support the views that some people connect with the campaign. "Many people have misunderstood me and referred to me by names that I am not."
As a result of the uproar, American Eagle released a statement in response to the situation. The company asserted that the idea was "a one hundred per cent focus on the jeans and style of the person" and further added, "Her jeans. Her story. We will continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence."
The mix-up became even more prominent when Sweeney was featured on the cover of GQ in November. A recorded interview in which she seemed reluctant to discuss the ad was her reaction. When asked about ex-President Donald Trump praising her and the campaign, she considered the instance a dreamlike one but refused to say more about the criticism. "When I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear," she said at that time.
Speaking to People, Sweeney stated that she would like to express herself more straightforwardly. "Last year I tried to keep it together; however, it was a really difficult time," she admitted. "I think I am so misunderstood that I need to be even more clear than usual with my true self and what I want."
FAQs
Sydney Sweeney has finally responded to her silence concerning the American Eagle campaign, stating that she does not endorse any hateful interpretations of the ad and that she wishes she had replied much earlier. Communicating less publicly and more deliberately is what she looks forward to in the next year.
Actor Sydney Sweeney reacted to the scandal of her American Eagle ad by saying that she opposes hate and that she regrets not speaking earlier. In a new interview, she explained her mission in the campaign and talked about the openness plan with the audience.
After a long time without saying anything, Sydney Sweeney has eventually commented on the American Eagle campaign. She told People that she did not accept any reading of the ad that was hateful and that she was sorry for not responding much earlier. She also said that next year she would be speaking less publicly and more thoughtfully.
After months of silence, Sydney Sweeney has finally addressed the controversy surrounding her American Eagle ad. She told People magazine that she wished she had spoken out against the backlash earlier and that she does not change her mind about hating the hateful interpretations of the campaign.
The 28-year-old actress mentioned the issue in her interview, which was released on Friday. She claimed misunderstandings were due to her quietness in the last few months. "I am against hate and divisiveness," she told People. "My silence on this matter has only deepened, not bridged, the gulf."
In July, the advertiser American Eagle unveiled the campaign named "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans." One of the ad visuals shows the "Euphoria" star ripping a pair of denim jeans on a car, by lying. As a voiceover, in the video, she says, "Genes are inherited from parents to children and usually decide things like hair colour, character, and even eye colour. My jeans are blue." By the pun, the Internet users were very angry with it, and the brand's accusers alleged that the company was associating the themes of eugenics and white supremacy with its advertisement.
Sweeney commented that she had no idea that the number of negative comments would be that high. The interview with People magazine, which is for her next film, "The Housemaid," featuring Amanda Seyfried, was the moment for her to clarify her position. "I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand," she said. "I am not the one to support the views that some people connect with the campaign. "Many people have misunderstood me and referred to me by names that I am not."
As a result of the uproar, American Eagle released a statement in response to the situation. The company asserted that the idea was "a one hundred per cent focus on the jeans and style of the person" and further added, "Her jeans. Her story. We will continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence."
The mix-up became even more prominent when Sweeney was featured on the cover of GQ in November. A recorded interview in which she seemed reluctant to discuss the ad was her reaction. When asked about ex-President Donald Trump praising her and the campaign, she considered the instance a dreamlike one but refused to say more about the criticism. "When I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear," she said at that time.
Speaking to People, Sweeney stated that she would like to express herself more straightforwardly. "Last year I tried to keep it together; however, it was a really difficult time," she admitted. "I think I am so misunderstood that I need to be even more clear than usual with my true self and what I want."
FAQs
- Why was the American Eagle ad controversial?
Critics argued that the wordplay involving “genes” and “jeans” invoked themes linked to eugenics and white supremacy. Sweeney and American Eagle stated that no such message was intended. - Did American Eagle defend the campaign?
Yes. The company said the ad was simply about jeans and individual style.