Overview

• American Eagle has refused to pull its Sydney Sweeney ads, insisting the “great jeans” pun is strictly about its denim line and not genetics
• The company unveiled a limited-edition “Sydney Jean” featuring a butterfly on the back pocket, with all sales earmarked for Crisis Text Line
• Critics on social media and opinion pages have interpreted the homophone between “genes” and “jeans” as evoking eugenic or white supremacist ideas
• President Trump and other conservative figures praised the ad after discovering Sweeney is a registered Republican voter in Florida
• Commentators note the backlash echoes past controversies over provocative denim ads and underscores deepening partisan divides over race and marketing ethics