Sydney Sweeney has had some controversial ad campaigns before (ahem, yes, that Dr. Squatch soap ad), but none have landed her in as much trouble as her most recent campaign with American Eagle. Posing in a classic Canadian tuxedo outfit circa Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears in 2001, a voiceover announced, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,” playing on the word, “genes.”
While lots of fans thought this was a cute, cheeky campaign, others took it in a completely different direction, calling it reminiscent of eugenics-era racism. Keep reading for more information.
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Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle Campaign
Sydney Sweeney has taken over the American Eagle Instagram page, with 14 of their last 15 posts featuring her in a pair of their jeans. While the shots are a mix of effortlessly cool (Sydney slamming the hood of a vintage car before strutting off to the driver’s seat), totally adorable (Sydney and her sweet puppy, Sully), and super steamy (Sydney covering up her modesty with just a jean jacket), most of the messaging was similar.
Voiceovers of a deep-voiced man saying, “Sydney Sweeney has good jeans,” (or genes, however you interpret it), a caption reading, “@Sydney_Sweeney has great jeans, and you can too,” a video of Sydney taking a paint brush to a billboard that reads “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes” and changing it to “Great Jeans.” You get the picture. It’s all about the genes, er, jeans.
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'Racist' Backlash
Many AE-wearers and Sydney Sweeney haters took this the way wrong way, and let their thoughts be heard in American Eagle's comment section. Some just called it flat out racist, while others complained it reminded them of the early 1900s eugenics movement. "Welp, no longer shopping at AE ever again, and neither will my future children," one person commented.
"I've been wearing nothing but AE jeans for 15+ years but this campaign is so off I'll find other jeans to wear now," said another.
"It's giving 'subtle 1930s Germany'," reads another comment.
"Didn't have Sydney Sweeney bringing back the Eugenics movement on my 2025 bingo board but here we are," says another.
Fans Defend Sydney Sweeney
But other fans came to Sydney's defense immediately. "Y'all are so whiny," one person wrote. "She's just a pretty girl wearing jeans. Get a life."
"Great ad," another person said. "The woke crowd needs to leave the room."
"I don't know why there's so much hate," another person said. "Jealous? I think she looks great! What happened to women lifting other women up?"
"Love the campaign!" fawned another fan. "Don't be jealous of Sydney!"
"Imagine being so triggered by an ad for jeans," a final user posted.
