What was meant to be a lighthearted fashion campaign has turned into a cultural firestorm.
Actress Sydney Sweeney, known for her breakout roles in Euphoria and Reality, is facing growing backlash over her recent American Eagle campaign, with critics calling it “tone-deaf,” “sexist,” and even “politically coded.”
The campaign features Sweeney posing in denim-heavy outfits with the headline:
“Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.”
While intended as a cheeky pun, the campaign has sparked accusations of oversexualization, lack of diversity, and questionable intent — with some even claiming the ad serves as a subtle right-wing dog whistle meant to appeal to conservative ideals disguised as pop culture.
👖 A Campaign Under Fire
Critics argue the ad leans too heavily on Sydney’s physical image, reducing her to her body and undermining her acting talents. The phrase “great jeans” (a play on both genes and jeans) has been seen by some as a thinly veiled excuse to sexualize her, especially when paired with tight clothing and suggestive poses.
Others have pointed out the absence of body diversity, racial representation, and inclusivity in the campaign’s visuals — something that feels out of touch in an era when audiences are demanding authentic, diverse representation in fashion advertising.
Social media commentary has only fueled the fire:
“Another campaign where a white woman is hypersexualized for clicks while ignoring actual diversity. We’ve seen this playbook before,” one user wrote.
“Feels like a commercial Tucker Carlson would support,” another posted, referencing the ad’s perceived political undertones.
🗣️ No Public Response (Yet)
As of now, neither Sydney Sweeney nor American Eagle has publicly responded to the backlash. But the controversy is trending across platforms, with hashtags like #SweeneyAdControversy, #NotYourJeans, and #FashionWithBias gaining traction.
Whether the brand doubles down or walks it back, one thing is clear: this campaign has struck a nerve, and not in the way American Eagle hoped.