Overview
- Sweeney told GQ she never considered issuing a formal defense, saying she is not here to tell people what to think.
- She described it as surreal to see President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance weigh in, and she has not publicly endorsed any politician or commented on her party affiliation.
- She said she was aware of reports that American Eagle’s stock jumped about 38% and claimed headlines about falling store visits were inaccurate due to the company’s quiet period.
- The campaign’s wordplay was criticized as racially charged and compared by some to extremist propaganda, with others faulting it for sexualization and drawing parallels to Brooke Shields’ 1980 Calvin Klein ads.
- American Eagle previously defended the tagline on Instagram, stating the message was about the jeans and celebrating how people wear AE with confidence.