Sweeney says silence not so golden over jeans ad furore
Hollywood actor Sydney Sweeney has spoken out following backlash over the American Eagle jeans ad in which she starred, saying her silence has “widened the divide”.
The US movie star has come under scrutiny after the release of the “Great Jeans” ad, which sparked debate on race because “jeans” was used as a play on “genes”.
Some critics saw the pun as a nod to eugenics, the discredited theory that humans can be improved through selective breeding, but American Eagle said the ad merely referred to the company’s denim jeans.
“I was honestly surprised by the response,” Sweeney told US magazine People.
“I did this because I love jeans and the brand.
“I do not support the views that some people have chosen to campaign with.
“Many people have assigned inaccurate motivations and labels to me.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I always try to bring people together. I am against hate and divisiveness.”
He said his stance in the past was to never respond to press, positive or negative, but that he has recently realized that his silence on the issue “is not closing the area down, it’s just widening it.”
“I hope this new year brings more focus to the things that connect us rather than the things that divide us.”
In the ad in July, Sweeney said: “Genes are passed on from parents to offspring and often determine traits such as hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue.”
In November, Sweeney faced further backlash after an interview with GQ magazine when he was asked if he wanted to respond to criticism, saying: “I think when there’s something I want to talk about, people will hear it.”
She added: “I did a jeans commercial. So the reaction was definitely a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans. I literally wear jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life.”
Sweeney also said it felt “surreal” to see US President Donald Trump react to the ad.
In August, American Eagle said in an Instagram post: “Sydney Sweeney has the Great Jeans and it was always about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story.”
“We will continue to celebrate everyone wearing AE jeans with confidence and their own style.
“Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Sweeney, who rose to fame with HBO’s hit teen series Euphoria, is currently promoting her new movie The Housemaid, adapted from Freida McFadden’s best-selling novel of 2022 and also starring Mamma Mia! actor Amanda Seyfried.
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