While Sydney Sweeney has made headlines over the past year for the projects she’s debuted amid the 2025 movie schedule, she’s also turned heads for another reason. Sweeney was embroiled in a controversy this past summer involving a promotional campaign for American Eagle. This “Great Jeans” ad ignited a debate amongst pundits and fans alike, and it remains a topic of discussion months later. As the conversation continues to play out, Sweeney herself is sharing some thoughts on the backlash she’s received.
The American Eagle ad campaign was launched in late July, with Sydney Sweeney appearing in a sensual commercial that advertised the company’s denim pants. In the context of the ad, the word “jeans” was meant to be a play on words related to “genes.” Ultimately, many took issue with this, as they believed it related to the concept of eugenics or the notion that a person was superior due to their specific genetic makeup.
