Sydney Sweeney Shuts Down Critics After American Eagle Ad Backlash
Sydney Sweeney Praised for Standing Firm Amid Jeans Ad Backlash
Sydney Sweeney isn’t backing down — and fans are loving her for it.
The 28-year-old Euphoria star is earning major praise after addressing the outrage surrounding her American Eagle jeans ad, which critics bizarrely compared to “Nazi propaganda.”
Sydney Sweeney is an American icon.
— Geiger Capital (@Geiger_Capital) November 6, 2025
"In this political climate, as a white woman, I want to give you an opportunity to apologize for saying you have good genes."
"No." pic.twitter.com/9LGmCMvaGw
Talking to GQ, Sweeney didn’t flinch when asked about the backlash.
“I did a jean ad,” she said simply. “The reaction was a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans. I’m literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life.”
No spin, no apology — just Sweeney being herself.
Image source: Ig/sydney-sweeney
She even laughed at how wild the conversation had become, calling it “surreal” that Donald Trump got involved. The actress explained she barely followed the chaos because she was busy filming Euphoria Season 3.
When pressed about the idea that the ad somehow promoted “genetic superiority,” her answer was sharp but graceful:
“When I have something I want to speak about, people will hear.”
Online, that moment hit home. Fans flooded social media with messages of support.
“Sydney Sweeney is an American icon,” one person posted.
“She nailed it. The question was pretentious and she gave it the response it deserved,” another wrote.
Others called her confidence “refreshing” and praised her for refusing to “bow down to the nonsense.”
The storm began after American Eagle released its “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” campaign in July. Critics fixated on the wordplay — “jeans” versus “genes” — arguing it had racist undertones. But the brand stood by its star.
“‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ was always about the jeans,” American Eagle said in a statement. “Her jeans. Her story.”
Even Trump chimed in, saying he loved the ad after learning she might be a registered Republican. “If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic,” he joked.
Through it all, Sweeney stayed silent — until now. In her GQ chat, she revealed the controversy didn’t just fade away — it helped boost American Eagle’s stock by 38%.
Image source: Ig/sydney-sweeney
As for the haters? Sweeney made it clear they don’t bother her. She’s proud of her work and won’t change how she lives or what she wears because of a headline.
“It was a jean ad,” she said again, smiling.
And honestly, that’s the energy the internet can’t get enough of.
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