Sydney Sweeney’s new ‘jeans’ ads are dividing the Internet. Here’s why
Sydney Sweeney is making headlines, but not for the right reasons.
The TV star, who has appeared in a number of projects including “White Lotus,” “Euphoria” and “Stranger Things” is going viral not for acting roles, but for a part in a new advertising campaign.
Sweeney is the new spokesperson for American Eagle. In a recently dropped spot, shared on her Instagram, the 27-year-old is seen packing up a muscle car and then driving off.
A man with a deep voice says, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.”
Her caption: “I have great jeans…now you can too,” then tags the company.
The ad immediately threw the Internet into an uproar with many folks claiming the play on the word “gene” was intentional, and accuses the retailer of giving off “Nazi” vibes.
In fact, in another AE promo the part time Florida Keys resident approaches a larger than life billboard of her that says, “Sydney Sweeney had great genes.” She paints over the word, correcting it to “jeans.”
Even her staunchest fans were in a tizzy, flooding the comments section on her page.
“This is embarrassing.”
“Oh cute, she’s in her Nazi propaganda era!”
“This is so weird.”
OK, Sweeney did have a handful of supporters amid the sea of complaints:
“[She] DOES have good genes,” wrote one. “Not because she’s a white blonde haired, blue eyed woman, but because she’s conventionally attractive. White people are allowed to be considered hot. It doesn’t mean they’re promoting whiteness as the superior race. These comments are absolutely insane.”
In a press release, AE President and Executive Creative Director Jennifer Foyle, didn’t address the double entendre, just called the brand “iconic – trendsetting denim that leads, never follows.”
The reason the honchos chose Sweeney, whose last questionable project was selling her own bathwater, as the star?
“She brings the allure,” Foyle continued, “and we add the flawless wardrobe for the winning combo of ease, attitude and a little mischief.”
This story was originally published July 30, 2025 at 4:24 PM.
