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“Now I Understand Why People Hate Her”: Sydney Sweeney’s New Comments On Jeans Scandal Spark Fury
Sydney Sweeney sparked controversy once again over her American Eagle “genes” ad.
The Euphoria actress came under fire earlier this year after appearing in the denim ad, which featured a pun on her “good jeans” and “good genes.”
The campaign quickly divided viewers, with many accusing the 28-year-old of promoting eugenics and racist ideas of genetic superiority.
Highlights
- Sydney Sweeney downplayed the negative comments she received following her American Eagle ad campaign.
- The ad, titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” featured a pun on her “jeans” and good “genes.”
- The actress did not apologize for the ad, further fueling criticism from those who saw racial undertones in the campaign.
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Sydney Sweeney has broken her silence on her American Eagle ad controversy
Image credits: Gotham/GC Images
The ad also took on political implications amid reports that Sydney is a registered Republican, and after US President Donald Trump publicly defended her during the backlash.
Speaking with GQ, Sydney addressed the criticism surrounding the campaign, making it clear that she has no intention of apologizing.
Image credits: gq
“I did a jean ad. The reaction definitely 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,” she began.
When asked about Trump calling the ad “fantastic,” Sydney replied that it was “surreal” to have the president weigh in, but added that she didn’t pay much attention to the controversy overall.
“I kind of just put my phone away,” she said. “I was filming every day. I’m filming Euphoria, so I’m working 16-hour days and I don’t really bring my phone on set. I didn’t really see a lot of it.”
The actress stood by the campaign and refused to apologize to those who were offended
Image credits: GQ
She was then questioned specifically about allegations that the ad promoted “genetic superiority,” but the actress declined to respond directly.
“I think that when I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear,” she said.
Sydney’s decision to stand by the ad reignited backlash online, with critics interpreting her response as dismissive and as confirmation that she believes in the genetic superiority of white people.
Image credits: americaneagle
“So, Sydney Sweeney literally just came out as a white s*premacist,” one person wrote.
“Now I understand why people hate her,” another said.
“Sydney Sweeney has the mentality of an ignorant white woman who doesn’t care about anything unless it directly affects her and it’s gross and uneducated,” echoed a third.
Another user called the White Lotus star a “PR disaster.”
The ad, which some interpreted as promoting genetic superiority, featured a pun on “jeans” and “genes”
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Image credits: KantInEastt
Image credits: cshasky2
Meanwhile, others defended Sydney, arguing that she doesn’t owe anyone an apology for the ad.
“It is a commercial for jeans and her parents did give her great genes! The play on words is appropriate,” one user wrote.
“Why does she have to apologize for earning a paycheck and looking beautiful?” asked another.
“Sydney never said anything that was wrong,” added someone else.
Sydney also said it was “surreal” that Donald Trump publicly praised the campaign
Image credits: GQ
In 2022, Sydney offered a more direct response to criticism after photos from her mother’s 60th birthday party circulated online. The celebration featured red “Make Sixty Great Again” hats and some attendees wearing “Blue Lives Matter” shirts, as per The Daily Mail.
The Anyone But You actress urged people to “stop making assumptions” and tweeted, “You guys, this is wild. An innocent celebration for my mom’s milestone 60th birthday has turned into an absurd political statement, which was not the intention.”
Image credits: GQ
Image credits: TheImmortal007
Image credits: GuntherEagleman
The ad at the center of the controversy was released last July and titled, “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.”
“Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color. My jeans are blue,” the Emmy-nominated star says in the ad.
American Eagle responded to the criticism at the time, stating the ad was just about jeans, not genetics.
American Eagle previously responded to the backlash with a statement saying, “Great jeans look good on everyone”
Image credits: americaneagle
Image credits: futarch
“We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone,” the company said in a statement.
American Eagle Outfitters CEO Jay Schottenstein reported that the company’s stock surged 25% following the campaign.
Image credits: GQ
In her interview with GQ, published on Tuesday (November 4), Sydney was asked whether she worried the controversies might stop people from seeing her new movie, Christy, a biopic about boxer Christy Martin.
She said she wasn’t “affected” by the negative online comments and expressed hope that audiences will “open their eyes to being open to art.”
The actress and producer was also asked whether she had ever been tempted to draft an official statement addressing the jean controversy when it erupted in July.
“I know who I am. I know what I value. I know that I’m a kind person. I know that I love a lot, and I know that I’m just excited to see what happens next. And so I don’t really let other people define who I am,” she said.
Image credits: GQ
In addition to Christy, Sydney will star in The Housemaid, the upcoming film adaptation of the bestselling novel, which is scheduled to be released on December 19. She is also attached to portray Kim Novak in Scandalous, a romantic drama to be directed by Colman Domingo.
Sydney’s response to her “genes/jeans” campaign continued to divide people on social media
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What do you think ?
Gebidozo 4 weeks ago (edited)
Unless she made some other comment that was definitely racist, which I’m not aware of, I think it’s ridiculous to accuse her of promoting white supremacy. She DOES have good genes in the sense that she looks good. Any other beautiful woman of any race could say the same and that wouldn’t be racist, either. The most you can accuse her of is bragging.
Nova Rook 4 weeks ago
Is there anything going on in America these days that would provide any additional context to this issue that you can think of?
Load More Replies...
Eternity Free 3 weeks ago
She Nothing To apologize for. Your hurt feelings keep them for yourself
Load More Replies...
Greg Takemoto 4 weeks ago
What’s bizarre is the party of slavery, Jim Crow, Black codes, the Trail of Tears, fought against freeing the slaves, fought against Blacks being citizens, fought against Blacks voting, fought against women Right to vote, put 106,000 American citizens of Japanese decent in concentration camps, fought the 1964 Civil Rights bill, incarcerated tens of thousands blacks, destroyed black families. Is calling everything racist, math is racist, bread is racist, that the party that freed the slaves, gave Black citizenship, the right to vote, passed EVERY Civil Rights bill, that created the First Step Act freeing thousands of Blacks, created 10’s of thousands of Opportunity Zones in Black communities racists. Racist racist , everything is racist except them.
Scott 3 weeks ago
The 2 parties switched during the Civil Rights era. It's not "democrat or republican" it's "liberal or conservative." Democrats used to be the conservative party, yes, but now it's the republicans. That's why people like you have to go way back in history... because modern times don't align with your ideology. And in modern times, it's republicans who wave the confederate flag, attract and defend nazis and white supremacists, do everything they can to marginalize anyone who isn't white... I could go on and on. And anyone who doesn't have their heads in the sand knows this.
Load More Replies...
Doodles1983 4 weeks ago
Initial ad, blown way out of proportion. We always say "good genes" casually. But in the UK at least we have a jeans for genes event to raise funds for those with genetic issues that can cause disability (for example). And is the company or advertisement agency getting the same negativity? I doubt it. She isn't subsequently helping herself, hence escalating but, the original ad? Wordplay. If that is now offensive, I can't leave my home ever again!
Bubblebee 4 weeks ago
She HAS superior genes. Not because she's white but because she's very pretty, has awesome hair, interesting features and a great silhouette. Doesn't matter what shade someone is - *everyone* knows exactly what having great genes mean. It's not a race thing, it's a beauty thing. 🤦♀️
Shannon 4 weeks ago
Probably racist, definitely right wing. Gets famous moves from California to Florida because she doesn't want to pay taxes.
Eternity Free 3 weeks ago
You are probably racist against white woman with Blue Eyes
Load More Replies...
Maximilian Josephs 3 weeks ago (edited)
"critics interpreting her response as dismissive and as confirmation that she believes in the genetic superiority of white people." That is an insane thought process.
Eternity Free 3 weeks ago
She has Nothing To apologize for. There is nothing about White Supremacy in the ads. Why should she apologize? These Hurt people who walk around the world and gets upset over everything shall never have an apology. She did the right thing
NEMESIS 4 weeks ago
'People" don't hate Sydney Sweeney. The WOKE liberal left hate her because she is not submissive to their lunatic agenda.
turk 3 weeks ago
We hate her because she supports a child raping wannabe dictator. Seems the natural thing to do if you have even a minimal sense of morality. You support pedos. That's your side of the political spectrum. You should be ashamed, but you have no shame.
Load More Replies...
CP 4 weeks ago
IMHO, I don't see racism here. I see a play on words that didn't land in the current environment. However I get why people could come to that conclusion in our current environment. Corporations all over have seemed to do a 180 on advertising to placate our wannabe dictator and our wannabe dictator is very racist.
FreeTheUnicorn 4 weeks ago (edited)
If people in any way thought I was a white supremecist, no matter how ridiculous the path to that conclusion, I would emphatically declare that I'm not. Only someone who is a white supremecist would be indifferent to people saying that they are one. This isn't refusing to engage about a scandal, it's not minding being labelled a bigot. Maybe it wasn't fair to put her in this position, but it's easy to put to bed. I'd go with race is a social construct and there is no better or worse when it comes to race. But many other options are available such as F**k Na zis or I'm disgusted that people would believe I'm racist, racism is wrong.
gvizzle_ 74 4 weeks ago
you can't win. if you don't say anything it's "ha! we knew it, you're not denying it" and if you do "empathically declare that you're not", then it becomes "ha! we knew it, you're protesting too much" not everything is about race and not everything is racist. people just look for reasons to be mad.
Load More Replies...
liam newton-harding 4 weeks ago
Define, "woke"...we'll wait...if you are having trouble, it derives from; "awake"..."aware"..."conscious"..."knowing what is going on around you"..."taking part".
Load More Replies...
Gebidozo 4 weeks ago (edited)
Unless she made some other comment that was definitely racist, which I’m not aware of, I think it’s ridiculous to accuse her of promoting white supremacy. She DOES have good genes in the sense that she looks good. Any other beautiful woman of any race could say the same and that wouldn’t be racist, either. The most you can accuse her of is bragging.
Nova Rook 4 weeks ago
Is there anything going on in America these days that would provide any additional context to this issue that you can think of?
Load More Replies... Eternity Free 3 weeks ago
She Nothing To apologize for. Your hurt feelings keep them for yourself
Load More Replies... Greg Takemoto 4 weeks ago
What’s bizarre is the party of slavery, Jim Crow, Black codes, the Trail of Tears, fought against freeing the slaves, fought against Blacks being citizens, fought against Blacks voting, fought against women Right to vote, put 106,000 American citizens of Japanese decent in concentration camps, fought the 1964 Civil Rights bill, incarcerated tens of thousands blacks, destroyed black families. Is calling everything racist, math is racist, bread is racist, that the party that freed the slaves, gave Black citizenship, the right to vote, passed EVERY Civil Rights bill, that created the First Step Act freeing thousands of Blacks, created 10’s of thousands of Opportunity Zones in Black communities racists. Racist racist , everything is racist except them.
Scott 3 weeks ago
The 2 parties switched during the Civil Rights era. It's not "democrat or republican" it's "liberal or conservative." Democrats used to be the conservative party, yes, but now it's the republicans. That's why people like you have to go way back in history... because modern times don't align with your ideology. And in modern times, it's republicans who wave the confederate flag, attract and defend nazis and white supremacists, do everything they can to marginalize anyone who isn't white... I could go on and on. And anyone who doesn't have their heads in the sand knows this.
Load More Replies... Doodles1983 4 weeks ago
Initial ad, blown way out of proportion. We always say "good genes" casually. But in the UK at least we have a jeans for genes event to raise funds for those with genetic issues that can cause disability (for example). And is the company or advertisement agency getting the same negativity? I doubt it. She isn't subsequently helping herself, hence escalating but, the original ad? Wordplay. If that is now offensive, I can't leave my home ever again!
Bubblebee 4 weeks ago
She HAS superior genes. Not because she's white but because she's very pretty, has awesome hair, interesting features and a great silhouette. Doesn't matter what shade someone is - *everyone* knows exactly what having great genes mean. It's not a race thing, it's a beauty thing. 🤦♀️
Shannon 4 weeks ago
Probably racist, definitely right wing. Gets famous moves from California to Florida because she doesn't want to pay taxes.
Eternity Free 3 weeks ago
You are probably racist against white woman with Blue Eyes
Load More Replies... Maximilian Josephs 3 weeks ago (edited)
"critics interpreting her response as dismissive and as confirmation that she believes in the genetic superiority of white people." That is an insane thought process.
Eternity Free 3 weeks ago
She has Nothing To apologize for. There is nothing about White Supremacy in the ads. Why should she apologize? These Hurt people who walk around the world and gets upset over everything shall never have an apology. She did the right thing
NEMESIS 4 weeks ago
'People" don't hate Sydney Sweeney. The WOKE liberal left hate her because she is not submissive to their lunatic agenda.
turk 3 weeks ago
We hate her because she supports a child raping wannabe dictator. Seems the natural thing to do if you have even a minimal sense of morality. You support pedos. That's your side of the political spectrum. You should be ashamed, but you have no shame.
Load More Replies... CP 4 weeks ago
IMHO, I don't see racism here. I see a play on words that didn't land in the current environment. However I get why people could come to that conclusion in our current environment. Corporations all over have seemed to do a 180 on advertising to placate our wannabe dictator and our wannabe dictator is very racist.
FreeTheUnicorn 4 weeks ago (edited)
If people in any way thought I was a white supremecist, no matter how ridiculous the path to that conclusion, I would emphatically declare that I'm not. Only someone who is a white supremecist would be indifferent to people saying that they are one. This isn't refusing to engage about a scandal, it's not minding being labelled a bigot. Maybe it wasn't fair to put her in this position, but it's easy to put to bed. I'd go with race is a social construct and there is no better or worse when it comes to race. But many other options are available such as F**k Na zis or I'm disgusted that people would believe I'm racist, racism is wrong.
gvizzle_ 74 4 weeks ago
you can't win. if you don't say anything it's "ha! we knew it, you're not denying it" and if you do "empathically declare that you're not", then it becomes "ha! we knew it, you're protesting too much" not everything is about race and not everything is racist. people just look for reasons to be mad.
Load More Replies... liam newton-harding 4 weeks ago
Define, "woke"...we'll wait...if you are having trouble, it derives from; "awake"..."aware"..."conscious"..."knowing what is going on around you"..."taking part".
Load More Replies... You May Like "What Happened?": Bradley Cooper's Radical Makeover Has Fans Saying He Looks Like Barry Manilow "A Nightmare": Fans React To Millie Bobby Brown’s Story About How She Started Dating Jake Bongiovi “We Don’t Talk About That”: Glen Powell’s Viral Blunder During Interview Might Expose Dark Side Of Hollywood
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