Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle Jeans Ad Ignites Controversy Over ‘Great Jeans’ Slogan

Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney has found herself at the center of a heated controversy following her appearance in American Eagle’s fall denim campaign, which features the slogan “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.” The playful wordplay, intended to highlight both Sweeney’s style and the brand’s denim line, has sparked a polarizing debate online, with critics accusing the ad of promoting Eurocentric beauty standards and even white supremacy. The backlash has drawn responses from political figures, social media users, and the White House, amplifying the issue into a cultural flashpoint.

The campaign, launched in late July 2025, showcases Sweeney, known for her roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus, modeling American Eagle’s jeans with an AI-powered virtual try-on feature. While some praised the innovative approach and Sweeney’s star power, others criticized the slogan’s double entendre—“great jeans” sounding like “great genes”—as insensitive. Detractors, particularly on the left, argued it subtly endorsed whiteness and thinness, pointing to Sweeney’s blonde hair and blue eyes as reinforcing Eurocentric ideals. An MSNBC article claimed the ad reflected an “unbridled cultural shift toward whiteness,” while BuzzFeed and Yahoo highlighted what they called “tone-deaf messaging.” Social media platforms like X saw intense debates, with posts accusing the ad of aligning with far-right ideologies.

The controversy escalated when conservative figures and the White House weighed in. Vice President JD Vance mocked the outrage, sarcastically noting, “We’re going to attack people as Nazis for thinking Sydney Sweeney is beautiful. Great strategy, guys.” The White House called the liberal backlash “moronic” and a reason for recent political shifts, labeling it “warped thinking.” Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly also defended the ad, amplifying the divide. American Eagle stood firm, issuing a statement on Instagram: “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence.” The company further announced that proceeds from the Sweeney line would support the Crisis Text Line, a mental health initiative.

Sweeney, reportedly, believes the controversy has been “blown out of proportion,” according to US Weekly. She’s shifted her focus to work, including rejoining her Euphoria castmates on set. Despite the uproar, the campaign has generated significant buzz, with 5.6K views on Times of India alone, reflecting its viral impact.

The debate underscores deeper societal tensions over representation, beauty standards, and the politicization of advertising. As American Eagle pushes forward, the controversy highlights the challenges brands face in navigating a polarized cultural landscape. Whether the ad is seen as a clever marketing move or an insensitive misstep, it has undeniably sparked a conversation that transcends fashion.