Overview

• In her first interview since the backlash, Sweeney refused to discuss the American Eagle campaign during a Wall Street Journal sit-down.
• She described her advertising choices as highly intentional and cited her Dr. Squatch bathwater promotion to illustrate how she tracks audience reaction.
• The American Eagle video features a genes–jeans pun, which fueled online accusations of eugenics overtones and comparisons to Nazi propaganda.
• American Eagle reiterated that the campaign is about denim and said it celebrates how people wear the brand’s jeans with confidence.
• The debate has drawn political attention, with President Trump publicly praising the advertisement as “fantastic.”