Sydney Sweeney has said she regrets not speaking out sooner over the controversy surrounding her American Eagle jeans advertisement, which critics accused of flirting with eugenics. The actor, known for her role in HBO's Euphoria, told People magazine that her silence 'widened the divide' between people.
The 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans' campaign, launched in summer, was a commercial success, making American Eagle the most popular jean brand for 15- to 25-year-olds and boosting its stock by 30%. However, the ad featuring a blond-haired, blue-eyed model was criticised for carrying undertones of white supremacy and eugenics, with some comparing it to Nazi propaganda.
Former President Donald Trump called the campaign the 'hottest ad out there', while Forbes argued the brand should reconsider the campaign. American Eagle store visits reportedly fell by 9% by the end of summer. Sweeney said she was 'honestly surprised by the reaction', adding that she does not support the views some people connected to the campaign.
'Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together. I’m against hate and divisiveness,' Sweeney said. She hopes the new year brings more focus on what connects people rather than divides them. Sweeney is considered an outside bet for an Oscar for her lead role in the upcoming biopic Christy.
