Overview

• A YouGov/The Economist survey of 1,635 adults found 12% deemed the “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” campaign offensive, while 39% called it clever, 40% said neither and 8% were unsure.
• Men and Republicans were more likely than women and Democrats to view the ad as clever, though even among Democrats more respondents labeled it clever than offensive.
• Pass_by retail data revealed American Eagle foot traffic fell 8.96% year-over-year for the week beginning August 3, exceeding declines at peers like Abercrombie & Fitch and H&M.
• An analysis by The New York Times found the initial criticism originated with a handful of low-follower social media accounts before right-leaning influencers and politicians amplified the debate.
• President Trump’s Truth Social endorsement and J.D. Vance’s comments coincided with a 23% surge in American Eagle’s stock and intensified the ad’s framing as a pushback against so-called “woke” critics.