Overview

• In his first detailed comments, Jay Schottenstein said, “You can’t run from fear,” insisting the company stands by the July campaign.
• He instructed executives to stay quiet publicly, barred employees from commenting, and assigned a small team to monitor social media and commission customer polling.
• American Eagle reports nearly one million new customers from July to September as sales and web metrics rose, with a stock jump following its earnings update.
• The brand kept the ads in market and plans to continue working with Sydney Sweeney through year‑end, with the Sweeney jacket selling out in a day and the Sydney Jean in a week.
• Criticism over alleged eugenics echoes drew national attention, President Trump praised the ad on Truth Social, and Schottenstein—who noted his awareness of the term—rejected the accusation.