Fans Are Defending Sydney Sweeney After She Faces Backlash For ‘Racist’ American Eagle Ad: ‘It’s A Denim Campaign’

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.

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.