Amanda Seyfried says Sydney Sweeney faced a difficult situation during ‘American Eagle’ backlash

The actresses balanced a demanding press tour while celebrating birthdays and promoting their hit film together

Amanda Seyfried has opened up about supporting Sydney Sweeney during the controversy surrounding Sweeney's American Eagle advertising campaign in 2025.

Speaking to British GQ, Seyfried reflected on the period when she and Sweeney were promoting their thriller The Housemaid. The film became a major success and later led to plans for a sequel, but its promotional campaign coincided with public criticism directed at Sweeney over an American Eagle advertisement.

The campaign, titled "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans", sparked debate because of its wordplay involving "jeans" and "genes". Some critics interpreted the message as racially insensitive or suggestive of genetic superiority, while others compared the adverts to controversial denim campaigns from previous decades.

Seyfried said she understood that the situation could not have been easy for her co star.

"We had a great time on the press tour," Seyfried told British GQ. "We worked really hard and she seemed to be having fun, but I also understood that probably it cannot be easy, where she found herself."

The Oscar nominated actress added that she had heard Sweeney defend herself during the controversy and believed the younger star had been placed in a difficult position.

Rather than offering unsolicited advice, Seyfried explained that she simply tried to be available whenever Sweeney needed support. She said she avoided bringing up the issue unless Sweeney wanted to discuss it and instead focused on creating a comfortable environment while they continued promoting the film.

Seyfried described herself as a "safe space" for her colleague, adding that sometimes support could be as simple as sharing cake, laughter or spending time together.

Despite juggling several professional commitments at the time, Sweeney also made time for personal gestures. Seyfried recalled that the actress surprised her on her December birthday with cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery and gifted her a bracelet.

During that same period, Sweeney was promoting both The Housemaid and Christy, while also appearing in the final season of HBO's Euphoria. The busy schedule came as the public discussion around the American Eagle campaign intensified.

In December 2025, Sweeney addressed the backlash herself. She told PEOPLE that she had been surprised by the response and stressed that she did not support the beliefs some critics associated with the campaign.

The actress said she participated in the advertisements because she liked the brand and its products. She also explained that remaining silent had unintentionally widened divisions and that she opposed hatred and divisiveness.

Earlier this year, Sweeney reunited with American Eagle for a new campaign titled "Syd for Short", which focused on the company's shorts collection. The actress described the campaign as a reflection of her authentic personality and noted that friends and family have long called her "Syd".