Sydney Sweeney Turns Heads in American Eagle Jeans ad, Sparks Debate

August 2, 2025 Priyanka Pandey Celebrity News, Entertainment, Hollywood 0

Best ad for jeans by Sydney Sweeney!

Hollywood star Sydney Sweeney is once again at the center of online buzz, this time for her starring role in American Eagle’s latest denim ad campaign.

Launched in late July, the series of videos features the “Euphoria” actress in a series of revealing denim outfits, cleverly playing on the double meaning of “genes” and “jeans” to promote the brand’s flattering fits. But what started as a lighthearted endorsement has quickly ignited controversy, with critics accusing the ads of subtly promoting eugenics and Western beauty standards.

In the campaign titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” the 27-year-old actress appears in various settings, from casual street scenes to more intimate close-ups, showcasing American Eagle’s slouchy and low-rise jeans.

One particularly viral clip has Sweeney lounging in a dimly lit room, wearing a cropped denim top and fitted jeans that accentuate her figure. As the camera pans slowly over her physique, she delivers the punny line: “My body’s composition is determined by my genes,” before adding with a wink, “And these jeans are in them too.”

The ad emphasizes the brand’s denim as a perfect match for her “great genes,” blending humor with heavy visual focus on her curves and blonde, blue-eyed features.

The playful wordplay is intended to celebrate essential denim dressing and American Eagle’s reputation for comfortable, body-positive styles, according to the company.

Sweeney, known for her roles in hits like “Anyone But You” and “Madame Web,” has been a rising endorsement powerhouse, recently promoting everything from bath products to high-fashion lines.

This ad marks her first major collaboration with the retailer, aiming to appeal to Gen Z shoppers with its mix of nostalgia and modern edge. Billboards featuring Sweeney in 3D have even popped up in Times Square, amplifying the campaign’s reach.

However, the ads have not been without backlash. Social media users, particularly on platforms like X and TikTok, have criticized the “great genes” tagline as racially insensitive, pointing to Sweeney’s Aryan-like appearance as evoking eugenics rhetoric or even subtle nods to far-right ideologies.

Some commentators linked it to broader cultural shifts, including anti-“woke” sentiments in American politics, while others called it a tone-deaf celebration of unattainable beauty standards. “This isn’t just about jeans—it’s promoting a very specific ‘ideal’ body and heritage,” one viral tweet read, garnering thousands of likes.

American Eagle swiftly responded to the outcry, defending the campaign in a statement: “This ad is and always was about the jeans. We’re celebrating great-fitting denim that makes everyone feel confident, regardless of background.”

The company emphasized that the pun was purely playful and not intended to carry deeper connotations, standing firmly by Sweeney amid the liberal backlash.

Sweeney herself has yet to comment directly on the controversy, but sources close to the actress say she’s focused on her upcoming projects, including a biopic on boxer Christy Martin.

Fans have rallied in her defense, praising the ad’s empowering vibe and dismissing critics as overreaching.

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Priyanka Pandey writer
About Priyanka Pandey 203 Articles
Priyanka Pandey is a woman of words who believes the pen is mightier than the sword. She wants to bring a change in her surroundings using the power of words. She is a bold content writer who wants to follow her passion for writing and get her works published under a renowned publishing firm's name. The current news topics, especially those related to politics, are her favorite.