Lizzo has never been one to bite her tongue, and this week she proved it again—by poking fun at Sydney Sweeney’s now-infamous American Eagle “great jeans” ad during a live performance.
While singing to a packed crowd, Lizzo paused to chat with the audience about “fashion moments that just don’t sit right,” before cheekily referencing the campaign that sparked massive online debate.
“Great jeans? Baby, I’ve seen better in my laundry basket,” she laughed, before adding, “Maybe they meant genes with a G—because that girl’s got a whole lot of… publicity.”
The crowd roared, instantly recognizing the dig.
Why the Ad Was Already Controversial
Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle campaign tagline—“Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans”—was meant to be a cheeky pun. But critics slammed it for:
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Oversexualizing women in marketing
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Alleged racial undertones
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Lack of diversity in representation
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Feeling like a “right-wing dog whistle” to some
The backlash turned the ad into one of the most polarizing celebrity endorsements of the year.
Social Media Reacts to Lizzo’s Shade
Lizzo’s joke immediately went viral, with fans split between calling her a comedic genius and accusing her of adding fuel to the fire.
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“Lizzo said what we were all thinking 💀”
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“She could’ve kept that to herself—Sydney’s just doing her job.”
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“When the jeans beef turns into a music tour side plot…”
As for Sydney Sweeney, she hasn’t publicly responded to Lizzo’s jab… yet. But given her usually calm PR game, a subtle Instagram post might be on the way.