Sydney Sweeney's Silence on Jeans Ad Backlash Widens Divide, Star Says
In a recent interview with People magazine, actress Sydney Sweeney expressed regret over staying silent during the controversy surrounding her American Eagle jeans advert. The campaign, which featured a blond-haired model with blue eyes saying she "has great jeans," was criticized for allegedly flirting with eugenics and white supremacy.
Sweeney, known for her roles in HBO's Euphoria and the upcoming biopic Christy, admitted that she had initially thought the backlash would subside, but ultimately realized that silence only widened the divide between people. The actress emphasized that she is "against hate" and has always tried to bring people together.
The American Eagle campaign sparked intense debate on social media, with some users likening it to Nazi propaganda and others describing it as a message from the "lab where they cook up culture-war pathogens." Donald Trump even intervened in the controversy, calling the ad the "hottest ad out there."
While Sweeney had initially been hesitant to address the issue, she acknowledged that her silence only served to fuel the debate. The actress stated that she loves the jeans and the brand but does not support the views associated with the campaign.
The backlash has also affected American Eagle's stock prices, with the company's value increasing by 30% as a result of the controversy. However, store visits were reported to be down 9% by the end of the summer.
Sweeney's response to the controversy highlights her efforts to address the issue and promote unity. The actress expressed hope that the new year will bring more focus on what connects people rather than what divides them.
In a recent interview with People magazine, actress Sydney Sweeney expressed regret over staying silent during the controversy surrounding her American Eagle jeans advert. The campaign, which featured a blond-haired model with blue eyes saying she "has great jeans," was criticized for allegedly flirting with eugenics and white supremacy.
Sweeney, known for her roles in HBO's Euphoria and the upcoming biopic Christy, admitted that she had initially thought the backlash would subside, but ultimately realized that silence only widened the divide between people. The actress emphasized that she is "against hate" and has always tried to bring people together.
The American Eagle campaign sparked intense debate on social media, with some users likening it to Nazi propaganda and others describing it as a message from the "lab where they cook up culture-war pathogens." Donald Trump even intervened in the controversy, calling the ad the "hottest ad out there."
While Sweeney had initially been hesitant to address the issue, she acknowledged that her silence only served to fuel the debate. The actress stated that she loves the jeans and the brand but does not support the views associated with the campaign.
The backlash has also affected American Eagle's stock prices, with the company's value increasing by 30% as a result of the controversy. However, store visits were reported to be down 9% by the end of the summer.
Sweeney's response to the controversy highlights her efforts to address the issue and promote unity. The actress expressed hope that the new year will bring more focus on what connects people rather than what divides them.
the thing is, i think sydney sweeney did the right thing by speaking up about the american eagle campaign... 
she didn't have to take a stand, but she chose to, and that's what matters... 
it's not just about being silent or talking, it's about using your platform for good... 
now, let's focus on spreading positivity and unity instead of drama and hate... 
. I mean, come on, a "has great jeans" ad with those racist undertones? You'd think people would've been like "hold up, something's fishy here". And now she's basically saying sorry for not speaking out sooner... yeah right 
. The real question is, what was she waiting for? Was she in on it all along? 
American Eagle's stock prices are rising just fine without her apology, though 
. And let's be real, the brand's "value" is just code for their ability to make money off people's ignorance 
. Can't say I blame the girl for wanting to promote unity and whatnot, but it feels like a pretty shallow attempt at saving face 
.
omg sydney sweeney is a total angel for speaking up about this american eagle ad 
she was literally so silent about it and ppl were already raging online 
i mean who wants to support eugenics and white supremacy? not me! 
but seriously, sydney's right that silence only fuels the drama 
we need more people like her who are willing to have tough conversations 
and honestly, american eagle is getting a major win for addressing their mistake 
let's see if they can capitalize on this controversy and make some positive changes 
. It's like, we're supposed to be a society where everyone can feel welcome and included, right? But when there's this kind of blatant disregard for sensitivity and respect, it feels like we're taking two steps forward but three steps back 
. Like, no, Mr T, that's not cool at all! That kind of thing can be super alienating for people who already feel like they don't belong 
.
You can't just dismiss an ad as "not serious" or "just a joke" when there are people genuinely hurt by it.
- the day after the interview dropped, #SydneySweeney was trending worldwide! But what really caught my eye is that the ad campaign generated 1.2M social media posts in a week, with 45% of them being negative 
. The more I think about it, the more I'm like, "what's up with American Eagle's brand values?" 
like, who needs reality TV when you have cats playing with red dots? 
anyway, back to Sydney Sweeney... 30% increase in stock prices is wild, right? 
. anyway, i think the real winners here are the eugenic/white supremacy haters who got all worked up over nothing 
. Maybe next year will bring more unity vibes, but until then, let's just enjoy the popcorn 
. But then again, she did end up coming out and saying she's against hate, which is awesome 
. Sydney Sweeney seems like a good person, and she's just trying to promote unity – it's a shame the brand's stock prices are benefiting from the controversy 
. I mean, 30% increase in stock prices because of the controversy? That's some crazy business 
