Overview
- Sweeney addressed the months-old controversy for the first time, saying the American Eagle collaboration was simply an ad for jeans and had no personal or professional impact.
- The campaign’s wordplay—“Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” echoing “genes”—triggered social-media criticism over perceived racial connotations.
- She called it surreal that President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance publicly weighed in on the ad after it became a culture-war talking point.
- Sweeney noted that American Eagle kept the campaign in place without a formal apology and said the company’s stock rose about 38% during the uproar, a figure she attributed to the period’s attention.
- The actress said she will speak on issues on her own terms and is currently promoting the biopic Christy.