Sydney Sweeney takes stand ‘against hate’ after American Eagle controversy
Sydney Sweeney has definitely taken a stand “against hate,” months after her controversial American Eagle jeans campaign sparked an immediate backlash online – with some critics even comparing it to Nazi propaganda.
“Honestly, I was surprised by the reaction,” she told People in an emotional interview published Friday evening. “I did it because I love the jeans and the brand. I do not share the opinions that some people have chosen to link to the campaign. Many have attributed motivations and labels to me that are simply not true.”
The campaign, which first aired in July, is made up of a multitude of sexy shots of the 27-year-old actress wearing American Eagle Denim. It has since been accused of containing racial overtones given that its tagline, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”, is an obvious play on words, suggesting that the actress – who is white with blonde hair and blue eyes – has “good genes”.
To some, the ad appeared to promote the Nazi theory of eugenics and white supremacy, while others criticized the campaign for appealing to the male gaze.
Amid backlash and news that Sweeney is a registered Republican, President Trump defended the actress, calling her campaign “the hottest ad out there.” Republican Senator Ted Cruz criticized “the crazy left” for what he called an attack “on beautiful women.”
In early August, American Eagle doubled down with a statement on social media, writing: “‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always has been about jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We will continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, in their own way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Then the Euphoria actress followed suit, repeatedly refusing to apologize when asked to address the controversy in previous interviews.
“I think when I have an issue that I want to talk about, people will hear it,” she said when pressed by GQ.
But now, she’s taking a different approach and revealing how she feels about the situation.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together. I’m against hatred and division,” she told People.
“In the past, my position has been to never respond to negative or positive press, but recently I have realized that my silence on this issue has only widened the divide, instead of narrowing it,” Sweeney continued. “So I hope this new year will put more emphasis on what connects us rather than what divides us.”
