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Image Courtesy: The Hollywood Reporter
Sydney Sweeney has stepped forward to address the wave of controversy surrounding her American Eagle jeans campaign, acknowledging that her silence during the height of the backlash unintentionally "widened the divide." After months of speculation, misinterpretations, and debates online, the actress has now clarified her intentions behind the ad and expressed regret for not speaking up sooner. As she continues to take on new initiatives in Hollywood, her recent remarks not only reveal her viewpoint but also emphasize her desire to foster kindness and harmony.
Silence Turns into a Statement
Sydney Sweeney has finally responded to the controversy over American Eagle's 2025 denim campaign, which had drawn a lot of criticism. The advert in question, titled "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans," was released on 23rd July. Sweeney was largely silent at first. However, she acknowledged that her silence only "widened the divide" in a recent interview with People magazine. She said she undertook the ad simply out of love for jeans and the brand: "I did the commercial out of admiration for jeans and American Eagle."
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Image Courtesy: Winnipeg Free Press
Sweeney acknowledged she was "honestly surprised by the reaction," clarifying, "I don't support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign. Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren't true." She emphasized that she "leads with kindness," and reaffirmed her stance against hate and divisiveness—making clear that the commercial was, in her view, about fashion, not ideology.
What Triggered the Backlash?
The advertisement's lighthearted tagline, "great jeans," caused a stir since many people saw it as a pun that alluded to "great genes," a term that has historically been associated with controversy. Critics claimed the advertisement suggested ideas associated with eugenics or racial beauty standards since it featured Sweeney, an actress with pale skin, blond hair, and blue eyes. Some observers compared this advertisement to previous efforts that were generally perceived as promoting a limited definition of white beauty.
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Image Courtesy: ABC News
Others saw it as tone-deaf or insensitive in a social climate increasingly aware of representation and racial subtext. The debate was not limited to fans—the discussion spread across social media, political commentary, and even public figures weighed in. However, the campaign allegedly performed well financially in spite of the criticism. The denim pieces promoted by Sweeney quickly sold out, and American Eagle defended the promotion on social media, claiming that the message was always intended to be about the jeans—"her jeans, her story"—rather than genetics or ethnicity.
Sweeney's Reflection—and What's Next
Speaking ahead of the release of her new film 'The Housemaid,' Sweeney admitted her previous reluctance to respond to either negative or positive press was a mistake. "In the past my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press," she said, but added that she's come to realize that staying silent "only widened the divide, not closed it."
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She hopes that the coming year brings "more focus on what connects us instead of what divides us." In terms of her career, Sweeney is still growing strong; aside from 'The Housemaid,' she is well-known for her roles in popular hit-series like 'Euphoria' and the most recent biography 'Christy.'
