Majority of U.S. Adults Support Sydney Sweeney American Eagle Ad Amid Controversy

The American Eagle ad campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney, with the tagline 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,' sparked significant controversy due to its pun on 'genes' and 'jeans,' which some critics interpreted as promoting eugenics and over-sexualizing the actress. The brand defended the campaign, emphasizing it was solely about the jeans and celebrating confidence, leading to a divided consumer response aligned largely along values and political lines. A YouGov poll revealed that a majority of Republicans found the ad appropriate, while fewer Democrats and independents agreed, with Gen Z being the most divided and critical demographic. President Donald Trump expressed strong support for Sweeney and the ad, praising her for not yielding to what he called the 'woke mob,' and highlighting her registered Republican status. The controversy drew reactions from various public figures, including Vice President JD Vance, who criticized Democrats for their harsh response, characterizing it as a losing strategy. Despite the backlash, American Eagle's stock rose following the campaign launch, while Sweeney has not publicly addressed the controversy.