Sydney Sweeney Sparks Controversy Over Jeans: What’s Behind the Backlash?

Sydney Sweeney recently took the stage to address the backlash surrounding her American Eagle jeans campaign, and let’s just say, the drama is thicker than your favorite denim fabric. After the ad ignited a firestorm online, the actress expressed sincere surprise at the vehement reactions, particularly as many critics slapped labels on her that she firmly rejects. With a slogan like “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” it’s no wonder folks began looking deeper than the surface—some even linked it to a scandalous 1980s campaign by Brooke Shields.

As an unexpected twist, rather than dimming American Eagle’s light, the controversy had the opposite effect; the brand saw a notable uptick in stock prices and customer foot traffic. Sweeney, who usually opts for silence in the face of negativity, felt compelled to push back and remind everyone of her mission to promote unity over divisiveness. In a world that’s oftentimes distressed, who knew a jeans ad could drive such passionate discussions?