The revelation that actress Sydney Sweeney registered as a Republican voter in Florida has added fuel to the ongoing debate over her latest advertising campaign for American Eagle.
Public records show the 'Euphoria' star registered to vote on 14 June 2024, listing her party affiliation as Republican, shortly after purchasing a mansion in the Florida Keys. This occurred about two weeks after Donald Trump was convicted in New York, and months before he won the 2024 presidential election.
Sweeney, 27, previously faced criticism when guests at her mother's birthday party were seen wearing hats reminiscent of Trump's 'Make America Great Again' slogan. She later pleaded with the public to 'stop making assumptions' about that event.
The current controversy centres on American Eagle's campaign featuring Sweeney, which uses the pun 'Sydney Sweeney has great genes.' Some social media users accused the ad of echoing eugenics and white supremacist rhetoric, particularly given the political climate. One TikTok video described it as 'Nazi propaganda.'
Conservatives have defended Sweeney, with Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung calling the criticism 'cancel culture run amok.' President Trump himself remarked, 'Ooh, now I love her ad,' upon learning of her Republican registration. American Eagle defended the campaign, stating it was 'always about the jeans.'
Despite the backlash, American Eagle's stock has reportedly risen, contrasting with the 2023 Bud Light controversy involving Dylan Mulvaney, which led to a conservative boycott and significant sales decline.
