Sydney Sweeney Addresses Controversial American Eagle Ad Amid Political Backlash

By Newsmax Wires | Wednesday, 05 November 2025 12:35 PM EST
Sydney Sweeney has spoken out about her contentious American Eagle ad campaign, calling it “surreal” to see President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance weigh in on the controversy that dominated headlines this summer. The “Euphoria” and “Anyone But You” star addressed the fallout in GQ’s Men of the Year issue, reflecting on the polarizing response to the campaign.

The ad, titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” featured Sweeney narrating, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring … My jeans are blue,” playing on wordplay between “jeans” and “genes.” The spot aimed to highlight her connection to American Eagle but drew criticism for being tone-deaf and objectifying, with comparisons to Brooke Shields’ 1980 Calvin Klein ad.

American Eagle defended the campaign, stating it was “about the jeans” and emphasizing the brand’s focus on individual confidence. The controversy escalated when Trump praised the ad in August after learning Sweeney is a registered Republican in Florida, declaring, “She’s a registered Republican? Oh, now I love her ad.” Vance also entered the fray, using the backlash to mock Democrats, suggesting their strategy involved labeling attractive women as Nazis.

Sweeney noted the surreal nature of the political attention but clarified she has never publicly endorsed candidates or expressed political views. She also dismissed reports of a 38% stock surge, stating she was aware of the numbers but denied claims of declining in-store visits, which she called “all made up.”

The ad’s impact, she said, was secondary to its purpose: showcasing quality jeans. “It didn’t affect me one way or the other,” Sweeney told GQ.