Halsey has come to the defence of the crew behind the film Americana, which has faced fallout from a controversial denim advertisement starring Sydney Sweeney. The singer, who appears alongside Sweeney in the film, took to Instagram Story on Thursday to express support for writer/director Tony Tost and his team.
“I do agree that our words are important in this climate,” Halsey wrote. “I don’t, however, think that it’s fair for the news cycle to predatorily rip a hardworking director and his hardworking crew for their film that is completely separate-from and unrelated-to a (pretty dumb) advertising take.” Halsey added: “If it’s not clear who the actual people I’m standing up for are, I’m sorry look closer.”
The controversy stems from an American Eagle denim ad featuring Sweeney, which critics said echoed Brooke Shields’ 1980 Calvin Klein campaign. American Eagle dismissed the backlash, stating the ad “is and always was about the jeans.” Donald Trump also endorsed the ad, saying: “If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.”
Americana, which premiered at SXSW 2023, was released by Lionsgate last weekend in 1,100 theatres under its Premiere Releasing label, earning $500,000 at the box office. The film follows outsiders in a small South Dakota town whose lives collide after a rare artifact surfaces on the black market.
In a since-deleted post, Halsey praised Tost for making “an exceptional film,” adding: “Because his work and his vision are greater than the 24 hr gossip tabloid denim bulls***.” Another deleted post read: “I’m not upset the film’s release is being hurt by the timing. I am upset that bunch of non celebrity people involved in this film are being bullied by the media.”
