Sydney Sweeney stands by American Eagle ad amid backlash: “The ad spoke for itself”
Photo: AFP
In a recent GQ interview with features director Katherine Stoeffel, the Euphoria star discussed the now-viral jeans commercial that sparked months of debate online.
The ad played on the words “jeans” and “genes,” suggesting that the actress had both “good jeans” and “good genes.”
While the campaign was designed as light-hearted wordplay, some critics accused it of echoing ideas about “white supremacy” and “eugenics.” Sweeney, 27, said she was stunned by the reaction.
“I did a jean ad,” she told GQ. “The reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans. I’m literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life.”
She added that when the controversy took off, she was too busy filming Euphoria to pay it much attention. “It was surreal,” Sweeney said. “It’s not that I didn’t have that feeling, but I wasn’t thinking of it like that. I kind of just put my phone away. I was filming every day.”
When the interviewer offered her a chance to express regret or clarify her stance, Sweeney declined to issue an apology. “The ad spoke for itself,” she said simply. “When I have something important to say, people will hear.”
Sydney Sweeney refuses to apologize for ad about "good genes"
pic.twitter.com/kcfS9Q4ac4Earlier in the interview, Sweeney also reflected on why she chooses projects that make audiences think, rather than pushing specific views.
“I’ve always believed that I’m not here to tell people what to think,” she said. “I’m just here to open their eyes to different ideas.”
The ad even drew a response from President Donald Trump, who praised it as “fantastic,” though Sweeney avoided commenting on his remark.
Throughout the conversation, Sweeney appeared calm and self-assured — her quiet refusal to apologize serving as its own statement.