Sydney Sweeney Avoids Questions Amid American Eagle Campaign Backlash

Sydney Sweeney has remained silent about the backlash from her American Eagle jeans campaign, which was accused of promoting eugenics and white supremacy through a play on the words "genes" and "jeans." Despite widespread criticism from fans and celebrities like Doja Cat and Lizzo, Sweeney declined to address the controversy in her recent Wall Street Journal interview, though she acknowledged monitoring social media conversations. American Eagle defended the campaign, emphasizing their celebration of diversity in how people wear their jeans. Sweeney also reflected on the misogynistic backlash she faced over her previous bathwater soap promotion, noting that much of the criticism came from women, contrasting it with the more positive reception of a similar stunt by her co-star Jacob Elordi. Meanwhile, American Eagle has shifted focus by launching a new clothing line tied to the Amazon Prime show "The Summer I Turned Pretty," seeking to move past the denim ad controversy. Notably, President Trump praised the ad, and public records show Sweeney registered with the Republican Party in Florida earlier in 2024.